ILOILO City – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Western Visayas officially opened the 2022 Panubli-on Regional Trade Fair in SM City Iloilo yesterday.
A total of 181 micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) across the region are showcasing their homegrown products and masterpieces which include food, bags, jewelries, furniture, hablon-made clothing, and other stuff.
Now on its 19th year and anchored on the theme “Advancing Innovation”, the 2022 Panubli-on Trade Fair also showcases innovations on bamboo, cacao, processed food, and high-value coconut products, industry clusters, and the products developed under special programs in the region such as the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, Ubra PWD, and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
DTI OIC-regional director Ermelinda Pollentes led the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening of the trade fair, which will run until Nov. 20.
Pollentes said they are targeting P15-million sales this year.
“If it is cash and booked orders, from P10 million in sales last year to P12 million, but including the orders under negotiation, P13 million to P15 million for this year,” she added.
The OIC-regional director noted that there are selected MSMEs affected by the recent Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng”, but the department is also doing its best to help them link with financial institutions, corporations, and other government financial institutions.
“Also, we are trying to help them identify raw materials sources kung medyo nabahaan or wala didto available sa ila respective localities,” she added.
On the other hand, as part of the trade fair, a heritage fashion show was also organized by DTI-6, which presented the wearable collections of designers, artisans, and producers from each province in Western Visayas during the opening ceremony.
The runway show was in collaboration with the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) College of Industrial Technology, Fashion and Wellness Department, and the ISAT-U Models Guild under the direction of creative director and curator PJ Arañador./PN
