The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – MIMAROPA Regional Office officially launched its third One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Hub in Parañaque City on 12 July 2022. 

(From L-R) DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards Director Neil Catajay, LGU Parañaque City Officer-in-Charge of the City’s Consumer Welfare Office Milan Alcaraz, DTI Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary (Asec.) Dominic Tolentino Jr., DTI MIMAROPA Regional Director Joel Valera, Marinduque Land Corporation Owner Archie Armada, DTI MIMAROPA Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Mariposque, DTI Oriental Mindoro Provincial Director Arnel Hutalla, and DTI Palawan Provincial Director Hazel Salvador lead the ribbon cutting ceremony during the MLC Naturals x OTOP PH Hub grand launching on July 12, 2022, in Parañaque City.

This retail space features over 28 food and non-food micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the provinces of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan. 

DTI MIMAROPA has partnered with the Marinduque Land Corporation in constructing and managing this market space. Located in Better Living, Parañaque City, you can find local products varying from healthy snacks, native delicacies, refreshments, health and wellness products, and artisanal handicrafts. 

The OTOP Philippines Hub or OTOP PH Hub is a market access platform that aims to transform pasalubong centers into stores and spaces where OTOP products can be incubated and marketed.

Since 2020, DTI MIMAROPA has already established two OTOP PH Hubs in Marinduque and Romblon. Through this project, MIMAROPA products are now made available and accessible in Metro Manila. It also reduces the time and cost of shipping from the provinces going to the metro.

Gracing the launching program were DTI Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary (Asec.) Dominic Tolentino Jr., DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards Director Neil Catajay, representatives from the DTI Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, DTI MIMAROPA Regional Director Joel Valera, DTI MIMAROPA Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Mariposque, and the different DTI MIMAROPA Provincial Directors (PDs); Occidental Mindoro PD Nornita Guerrero, Oriental Mindoro PD Arnel Hutalla, Marinduque PD Roniel Macatol, and Palawan PD Hazel Salvador. On behalf of Romblon Provincial Director Noel Flores is Mr. Orville Mallorca. Representing the local government unit of Parañaque City is Ms. Milan Alcaraz, Officer-in-Charge of the City’s Consumer Welfare Office. Mr. Archie Armada, the owner of the Marinduque Land Corporation, joined the signing of the OTOP PH Hub Memorandum of Agreement with Asec. Tolentino Jr. and RD Valera.

In his opening remarks, DTI MIMAROPA Regional Director (RD) Joel B. Valera emphasized the long list of assistance being provided by the agency for small businesses concerning market access and market development. Some of the assistance include label printing and product development aligned with internationally-recognized standards that will ensure MIMAROPA products are export-ready. RD Valera also encourages the public to visit and enjoy the products on display at the MLC Naturals OTOP PH Hub in Parañaque City.

MLC Naturals x OTOP PH Hub is located at Unit B, Better Living, 136 Saudi Arabia Street Ara Villa Building, Parañaque, Metro Manila. 

Date of Release: 28 July 2022