BUTUAN CITY – Christmas season started early here as the Department of Trade and Industry launched on 18 November a month-long Christmas bazaar trade fair showcasing locally-made products by micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) of this city and Agusan del Norte.
Dubbed as Produkto Ipasigarbo sa Tabuan sa Agusan-Butuan (PISTA), this initiative by DTI Agusan del Norte is the new normal version of conducting trade fairs, wherein the traditional course is incorporated with the use of online platforms and delivery services, still with the same end goal to provide marketing outlet to the MSMEs.
The virtual launching which took place at DTI-Agusan Del Norte (DTI-ADN) parking grounds was virtually graced by Regional Director Edwin O. Banquerigo who extended his congratulations to DTI-ADN for mounting the Christmas Bazaar.
“This event is not just conceptualized in our head, this activity was done as a result when the mind and our hearts would work together. This Bazaar is all about helping people,” Banquerigo said in his message of support.
Assistant Regional Director Gay A. Tidalgo, alongside DTI Provincial Director Brenda B. Corvera, did the cutting of the ribbon, which officially marked the grand opening of PISTA Christmas Bazaar.
“I hope and pray that this event we are holding right now will generate more than enough sales for our MSMEs,” Tidalgo said.
Corvera, in her welcome message, underscored that the said trade fair was designed to provide more marketing outlets to the local producers and help them generate sales while being mindful to meet quarantine protocols and to meet new normal requirements.
She also encouraged the public to help these local producers, who in one way or another, showed resiliency, tenacity, and strong entrepreneurial spirit during the worldwide health crisis.
Eighty-one (81) registered MSMEs across Butuan City and Agusan del Norte, with one hundred fourteen (114) combined number of products, participated in the said Trade Fair.
PISTA is set to run until 15 December with GoFetch Express as its official delivery partner. The delivery services only cover Butuan City while the buyers outside the city may visit the eight trade fair posts in Negosyo Center (NC) Carmen, NC Nasipit, NC Buenavista, NC Las Nieves, NC Cabadbaran, NC Tubay, Brgy. Marcos Public Terminal in Magallanes, and Jabonga Sangguniang Bayan Sessional Hall Lobby.
To order local products, buyers may transact through PISTA’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DTIAdNTradeFair/.♦
Locally made food and nonfood products of Butuanon and Agusanon MSMEs are being showcased in PISTA Christmas Bazaar Virtual Trade Fair which will run until 15 December 2020. ♦
Date of Release: 19 November 2020