ILOILO City – More than 100 local exhibitors are set to display their products at the annual “Artesanias de Iloilo” trade fair organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Iloilo.
The event will take place from September 23 to 29 at the Robinsons Place Iloilo’s fountain area.
According to Ma. Dinda Tamayo, director of DTI-Iloilo, the fair provides an opportunity for the public to explore products from Ilonggo micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The event will also feature items produced through the Shared Service Facility (SSF) Project of the DTI. One such initiative includes the DTI-Iloilo’s allocation of P265,000 to purchase machinery for transforming coconut husks into charcoal briquettes in the town of Tubungan.
Tamayo noted that while over 120 MSMEs expressed interest in participating, only 105 were selected based on specific criteria.
“Although being an MSME in Iloilo doesn’t automatically qualify you as a participant, we continuously strive to develop projects that enable us to introduce new or improved products, ” Tamayo said during a media event on Wednesday morning, September 11.
Products available for purchase at the fair will include items made from bamboo, coconut, cacao, coffee, wearable made from “Hablon” fabric, high-value crop products, processed foods, and more.
Shayne G. Jornadal, Trade Industry Development Specialist and Unit Head of the Industry Development Division at DTI-Iloilo, expressed a desire for this year’s “Artesanias de Iloilo” to fully implement digital payments.
“As our MSMEs improve, we encourage them to embrace e-commerce and digital payment systems. This year, we aim to achieve 100 percent digital payment,” Jornadal said.
DTI-Iloilo has set a revenue target of P3.8 million for this year’s fair, an increase from last year’s P3.5 million goal.
In 2023, the event surpassed expectations by generating P3.6 million.
“We promote products proudly made by Ilonggo entrepreneurs, and everything showcased will originate from Iloilo,” Jornadal added.
Here are the tentative calendar of events for “Artesanias de Iloilo”:
* Official opening – September 23
* Bamboo Shoot Product Testing; Bamboo Weaving Crafts Demonstration; and Bamboo Product Competition organized by Iloilo Bamboo Industry Development Council – September 24
* Cultivating Coconut and Business Opportunity organized by Philippine Coconut Authority – September 25
* Orientation on Halal Certification, Marketing Opportunities on Muslim Friendly Production organized by DTI-Region 9 – September 26
* FDA-LTO Documentary Requirements and Basic Food Lab Requirements organized by SGS Philippines Incorporated – September 26
* Hablon Weaving Pattern Competition and Craft Demonstration such as Belgian Lace Making, Hablon Weaving, Crochet Making, and Decorative Pot Painting organized by Iloilo Weavers Association and Iloilo W&H Provincial Council – September 27
* Table Brewing organized by Tigbaw Tablea –September 28
* Flavored Table brewing organized by Sogñare by Doc’s HAVEN AND Sunburst Tablea – September 28
* Coffee Brewing organized by Equilibrium Intergrade Corporation – September 29
* Awarding Ceremony organized by DTI-Iloilo – September 29/PN
