ILOILO City – The island province of Guimaras takes pride of its very first One Town One Product (OTOP) Hub which was established last Dec. 29 through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 6.
Gov. JC Rahman Nava said that the OTOP Hub, housed at Guimaras Trade and Information Center, will be a suitable place for visitors who intend to have an overview of what they can get from the island province.
“The products displayed in the OTOP Hub are proudly made in Guimaras which include mango-based products (piaya, tart, pickles, jam, juice, barquillos, mango scotch, sauce, ketchup among others); kalamansi-based products, bags, baskets, accessories, key chains, shirt, among others,” according to the Capitol press statement.
Nava likewise expressed his appreciation to the DTI and other stakeholders for being an instrument in realizing the province’s vision to feature its local products in one setting.
For her part, DTI-6 assistant regional director Felisa Judith Degala said that the newly-opened OTOP Hub enables the promotion of Guimaras-based products.
DTI’s OTOP Hub Project is a one-stop retail store where market-ready products of a community can be found and cater to the general mainstream market of both local buyers and tourists.
To note, 32 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province vowed to sell and display their products at the OTOP Hub.
These MSMEs were also beneficiaries of technical and marketing assistance provided by the DTI and other partner agencies to enhance their products.
An extension of the OTOP Hub will also be established in Jordan Wharf at Barangay Rizal in Jordan town, according to Degala.
The OTOP Hub in Guimaras is the fifth of its kind in Western Visayas.
As one of the flagship market access programs of the DTI, the OTOP Hub taps the local government units to help these micro entrepreneurs to level up their products and encourage inclusive economic growth. (PIA-Iloilo/Guimaras PIO)/PN
