The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2 successfully launched the Digitalized One Town, One Product (OTOP) Hub Stores in Region 2 on 18 July 2022, as the first ever eCommerce platform of the OTOP Hubs, promoting the digital transformation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and helping OTOP Hub Store Operators and local logistic providers through an online market platform, “Padday na Lima Webshop.”
The launching event was attended by DTI R2 officials headed by Regional Director Leah Pulido Ocampo, Assistant Regional Director Winston Singun, the Provincial Directors of DTI Provincial Offices, and officials from the Insight SCS-DeliverE led by Mr. Pierre Curray, the representatives from the LGUs, local logistic transporters, and the OTOP Hub Managers.
The Padday na Lima Webshop is an initiative of DTI R2 powered by DeliverE that serves as another venue for entrepreneurs to have a permanent presence online, thus expanding their market reach and providing access to wider networks to help grow and manage their business.
DTI Regional Director Leah Pulido Ocampo echoed the objectives of the webshop geared toward digital transformation, which is also complementary to the major directives of DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual.
“We are going a notch higher by going digital. Everything has to be digitalized. Even if we intend to maintain our brick-and-mortar stores and pasalubong centers, we will now have to bring them to the digital level,” said RD Ocampo.
Assistant Regional Director Winston Singun emphasized DTI R2 as a trailblazer, being the first in the region to have an eCommerce initiative for OTOP Hubs digitalization.
Moreover, DTI Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona highlighted the importance of digitalization and mentioned e-commerce as a flexible solution for both MSMEs and consumers as we are now gradually adapting to the digital world.
Furthermore, the overview of the OTOP Hub Digitalization Project was also presented by the SMEDD Assistant Chief, Atty. Michael Paggabao, which focused on the goals and how the project started.
Another highlight of the event was the ceremonial signing of the MOU among the DTI R2, DeliverE, OTOP Hub Operators, and the Local Transporters in the region, to seal the partnership that gave birth to the Padday na Lima Webshop.
Meanwhile, the OTOP Hub Managers, representatives from the LGUs, and the local logistic transporters also gave their message of support and thanked the initiative of the agency and DeliverE in providing a platform to accelerate market access of MSMEs towards digitalization.
Towards the end of the event, the CEO of DeliverE, Mr. Pierre Curray, commended Region 02 as the first in the region to digitalize the OTOP Hubs and emphasized their support to further expand the project.
“We are very happy to support this project, with our goal to provide impact. DeliverE is one of the ways, one of the modalities, and business models that we can use to tap the market,” said Mr. Curray.
The launching event was held at the DTI R2 Negosyo Center Building and was conducted simultaneously via Zoom and live-streamed through the DTI R2 Facebook Page. ♦
Date of Release: 19 July 2022