MIMAROPA Naturally at OTOP Makati sales grew four-fold.
This year’s MIMAROPA exhibit generated PhP1.23 M in sales and drew 5,285 buyers at the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) One Town, One Product (OTOP) Store in Makati, a surge from last year’s Php378,860 sales.
According to DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion Director Rhodora M. Leaño, better sales are attributed to the improved quality and packaging of the products sold this year.
Products sold in the exhibit were processed food products, gift items, pearl jewelry, health and wellness products, marble accent prices, lamps and housewares coming from 38 participating small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the MIMAROPA region.
MIMAROPA stands for the island provinces belonging to the Southern Tagalog region composed of Mindoro (Oriental and Occidental), Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.
“The OTOP Makati Showroom is a good venue for business matching since it is easily accessible to its target market and provides interaction between buyers and sellers”, said Rene Laure, owner of the Oakville Trading, one of the participating MSMEs.
Among the recorded big buyers were Rustan’s, Balikbayan and Pyro Booster Enterprises.
After MIMAROPA, DTI together with Philippine Homestyle and Holiday Décor Association (PhilHHDA) is mounting another sales exhibit dubbed as “Celebrate! Decorate! @ OTOP Makati” featuring newly designed and exquisitely handcrafted holiday and home décor, gift items, furniture, wearables and processed food from 24 SME members starting 26 September.
The One Town, One Product (OTOP-Philippines) is a priority program of the government to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs. Through OTOP, local chief executives of each city and municipality take the lead in identifying, developing, and promoting a specific product or service, which has a competitive advantage.
OTOP-Philippines supports micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to manufacture, offer, and market distinctive products or services through the use of indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents. It offers a comprehensive assistance package through a convergence of services from local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), and the private sector.
Some of the support services under OTOP include business counseling, appropriate technologies, skills and entrepreneurial training, marketing, product design and development.
The OTOP Makati Showroom located at the DTI Main Building in Makati City, is one of DTI’s program of providing market avenues for MSMEs to introduce products in the local market.