OTOP Visayas Holds 4th Trade Fair in Cebu

Expect five days of pure local goodness as the Visayan leg of the ONE TOWN ONE PRODUCT (OTOP) holds its fourth annual fair at SM City Cebu this November 18 to 22. Entrepreneurs hailing from different corners of Visayas will be putting their local goods up for sale.

Products for sale are souvenir items, novelty items, gift items, home decors, natural fiber, processed food, footwear, wearables to include fashion accessories, bags, shawls, headgears and many others.

The marketing event is focused on the OTOP products of various municipalities in the Visayas highlighting the tourism and market potentials of Central Philippines which attracts more than half of foreign tourists in the country.

An intra-regional exhibit like the OTOP Visayas Island Fair is a good opportunity to showcase the best of the Visayan Islands

OTOP is one of the priority programs of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs in the countryside.

OTOP encourages the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to produce and market distinct products or services using indigenous raw materials and local skills of every municipality or city.

While DTI is the project’s marketing arm, OTOP is a “collaborative” effort of all sectors in the society, with local government units (LGUs) as the lead.

Executives of the Local Government Units (LGUs) take the lead in identifying, developing, and promoting a specific product or service which has a competitive advantage.

The DTI through its Provincial Offices assist the LGUs in identifying the specific product and coordinated other forms of assistance from other government agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Science and Technology (DOST), Tourism (DOT) and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among others.

OTOP package of assistance includes business counseling, skills and entrepreneurial training, marketing, and introduction of appropriate technologies.

CY 2008 - DTI Gears Up for 3rd Visayas-wide OTOP Fair in Cebu, No.v 12-16

It’s three times the charm as the Visayan leg of the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines holds its 3rd annual fair at SM City Cebu Atrium this November 12 to 16, 2008.

This five-day trade fair will display a wide array of exciting homegrown products from Central Philippines dubbed "Distinctly Visayas", according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the marketing arm of the OTOP.

From souvenir items, novelty items, gift items, home decors, natural fiber, processed food, footwear to wearables, the OTOP fair aims to promote native goods from the Visayan islands.

The Visayas Region composed of Regions 6, 7 and 8 have joined hands to come-up with this fair to provide opportunities for budding entrepreneurs and develop a new culture of local pride.



It is the third time the three regions of the Visayas have come together to form a united front, a Supra-region, complementing each other through the sheer diversity of each region's products and tourist destinations that have captured more than half of the country's foreign visitors in the country.

The OTOP Visayas Island Fair is an activity that aims to highlight the OTOP program, a flagship project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with the Local Government Units (LGUs) as the implementing arm.

The OTOP Philippines project is a government program to strengthen countryside development by promoting entrepreneurship and creating jobs.

This marketing event also aims to generate significant sales; train producers in dealing and negotiating with local and foreign buyers and exporters and develop new exporters from among the participants.

Under the OTOP, LGUs take the lead in identifying, developing and promoting a specific product or service, of which their areas have specific advantage.

The chief executives of each city and municipality have the task of consolidating services needed by industries to develop as a trademark for their respective localities, the DTI explained.

OTOP-Philippines provides a comprehensive assistance package through a convergence of services from LGUs, national government agencies and the private sector. This includes business counseling, skills and entrepreneurial training, product design and development, appropriate technologies and marketing.

The DTI said the OTOP-Philippines is designed to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME's) in the manufacturing and marketing of distinctive products and services to a much better level and achieve measurable results.

CY 2008 - Food Producers in Central Visayas take centerstage at international fair, May 15-18

Around 17 food producers in Central Visayas will showcase their products at the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines 2008 at the Mall of Asia on May 15-18, 2008.

IFEX, organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), is a culminating activity for SME participants of region 7 to the Partner Region Program (PRP) this year.

The PRP-IFEX 2008 participants are Eco Nuestra (bottled sardines, amahon), Andre Choco (chocolate products), Lola Pureza (broas), Bohol Bee Farm (honey spread, honey products, Jojies’s Bakeshop (bakery products), Tienda Boholana (oatmeal cookies), BQ Bread Basket (bakery products), Bohol Quality Pastries (peanut kisses), Candabong Ric Multipurpose Cooperative (ginger tea)

Also participating are Tessie’s Sweets and Pastries (bakery products), Chantilly (bobod kabug), Sans Rival (jam squares, sylvannas), Orient Food Industries (dried tropical fruits, Ivons Baybaye (bayebaye), Ever (peanut broas), Duran’s (banana fries) and Jainin’s Pastries (tortalita).

The PRP-IFEX is made possible with the cooperation of the Philippine Trade Training Center, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Science and Technology.

According to DTI, appropriate assistance have been given to SMEs under the PRP in the form of trainings, seminars and updates on food quality and safety, food packaging, marketing and branding.

Business matching and one-on-one buyer meetings are also conducted and arranged for the PRP proponents.

After application of relevant technical and marketing related interventions, these products are showcased in a special setting at the IFEX Philippines for market testing, DTI said.

The PRP gives focus on regional food products that have potentials in both domestic and international markets.

IFEX also features food products of other regions in the Philippines. (ends)

NERBAC-Cebu One-Stop Business Registering and Licensing

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We're aggressively promoting the services of NERBAC-Cebu. Cebu NERBAC is being made as a pilot project by the government for fast business registering and licensing.

Created through the Republic Act 7470, NERBAC is an all-in-one center that houses all concerned agencies in the government. It processes all regulatory requirements in starting a business, provides investments information, and data on investment promotion in Central Visayas.

I hope businessmen will support this government move and have their businesses registered at the NERBAC-Cebu to reduce graft and corruption.

CY 2007-THE FIRST BOHOLANO CREATIVE INDUSTRY FESTIVAL, July 18-22

Theme: Pakigsandurot sa Kinaiyang Bol-anon

Focus: One Town -One Product

DATE & VENUE OF ACTIVITIES

SANDUGO PRODUCT AND LIFESTYLE FAIR, July 18-22, 2007,ICM

CREATIVE INDUSTRY AGORA (Agriculture, Tourism, Crafts, Culture), July 18-22, 2007, ICM

CULTURAL PERFORMANCES July 18-20, 2007, ICM

CREATIVE INDUSTRY FORUM July 21, 2007, Metro Ctr

GO NEGOSYO TALK SHOW July 19, 2007, ICM

BOHOLANO COOKFESTS July 20, 2007 ICM & July 21, 2007, BQ

AGRICULTURAL ENTRPRENEURSHIP FAIR July 18-22, 2007, ICM

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM July 18 & 20, 2007, APC

PROJECT PROPONENT : Department of Trade and Industry

Bohol Provincial Office, 2.F FCB Main Building, CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City

Tel. No. (038)411-3302

Fax No. (038)411-3533

Email: dtibohol@yahoo.com

CONTACT PERSON : Ma. Elena C. Arbon, DTI-Bohol Provincial Director

COOPERATING AGENCIES :

Peace and Equity Foundation, Inc.

PROCESS – Bohol

Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

Bohol Provincial Government

Bohol Investment Promotions Center

Bohol Provincial Agriculture Office

Bohol Poverty Reduction Management Office

Provincial Veterinary Office

Bohol Tourism Office

Bohol Tourism Council

Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage Council

CY 2007 - CIC Smposium on Programs for Competitiveness (March 29)

The Department of Trade and Industry -Center for Competitiveness (DTI-CIC) will hold a symposium on the pro-active programs for competitiveness / PQA roadshow on March 29 at the Crown Regency Suites, Lapu-lapu City.

The activity is aimed at promoting the training programs of DTI-CIC as well as promote the PQA program to the local industries in the area. Target participants for the activity are locators of the Mactan Economic Zone and Mactan and Lapu-lapu based organizations.

The sympsoium will include the following topics: Overview of the DTI-CIC programs, Best Practices, Quality and Productivity Cornerstones for Motivating People, and Overview of the PQA Program

CY 2007 - PSE holds Cebu Stock Market Roadshow (March 5)

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) will hold a briefing on investing and capital raising through the equities market for some 200-Cebu-based business entrepreneurs.

This briefing will be held at the Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on Saturday, March 10, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Topics for discussion include: Overview of the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Philippine Equities market, Investing in Equity Mutual Funds, Online Stock Trading, Choosing Stocks Wisely and Listing in the Philippine Stock Exchange..

Trading participants are invited to put up marketing booths in the event. Due to a limited space, the PSE can accommodate only fifteen (15) brokers on a first-come,first-serve basis.

Note that an exhibitor’s fee of P2,000.00 will be charged to the participating broker. Transportation, accommodations and other incidental expenses will be for the account of those who wish to join.(ends)

CY 2007 - IRO Conducts Year-end Economic Briefing (March 5)

The Investor Relations Office (IRO) of the Philippine Government will conduct a series of yearend economic briefings in March as follows:Iloilo (March 5), Cebu (March 7), Baguio (March 14), and Pampanga (March 16). The briefings will be open to the business sector , diplomatic corps, international financial / donor institutions and the media.

In Cebu, the briefing will be held at the Cebu Grand Ballroom of the Marco Polo Plaza, Cebu Veterans Drive Nivel Hills, Apas Cebu City.

The IRO will bring from Manila five senior members of the economic team who will discuss the national income accounts, and fiscal, monetary, trade, investment and agricultural performance at the national level.

A presentation on regional performance to broaden information dissemination and awareness of economic issues at the local level.will be included in the presentation.

For more information, interested parties may check the IRO website at www.iro.ph

CY 2007 - LGUs and NERBAC Conference-Workshop on Feb. 23

Local Government Units (LGUs) in Cebu will have a workshop and conference with the staff of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) bannered as “Towards One BPLS for CEBU” on February 23, 2007, 9:00 a.m., at the Parklane Hotel Ballroom, Cebu City.

The conference-workshop is made possible by the joint efforts of the Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas Office and the German Technical Cooperation known as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ),

The NERBAC conference and workshop aims to streamline and harmonize the Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS) in Cebu.

Another purpose for this activity is to find ways for NERBAC to work in tandem with LGU leaders to invigorate further the investment climate in the province. The end-goal is to ease the way for more entrepreneurs to invest and do business in Cebu.

The NERBAC was created In line with Republic Act No. 7470 to facilitate business transactions in Cebu and fast track investment entry in the region. It houses representatives from different government agencies that are tasked to process business permit and licenses.

The NERBAC is a one-stop action center that facilitates the processing and documentation of all paper requirements necessary for the establishment of a business enterprise in the country including credit services. It provides prospective entrepreneurs/ investors basic information on various business options that are open to them in accordance with the government’s IPP (Investment Priorities Plan).

CY 2007 - Cebu holds "pulong-pulong" between gov't and biz sectors (Feb. 23)

“Pulong-Pulong Alang sa Kauswagan” (A Consultation for Development), a government and private undertaking that aims to discuss and tackle issues to rid obstacles that block the road for Cebu’s progress will be launched this coming Friday, February 23.

The planned regular consultation is a public-private partnership project between the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies (ARENA) in the region, the Office of the President – Central Visayas (OP-CV) and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

CCCI vice-president for external affairs Teodoro Locson Jr. will make a project presentation before the Memorandum of Agreement will be signed by CCCI president Francis Monera and ARENA-7 president Eduardo Lecciones Jr. who is also the regional director of the Dept. of Agriculture in the region. The signing of the agreement will be witnessed by OP-CV Presidential Assistant Felix Guanzon, Philippine Chamber of Commerce vice president for the Visayas Jose Ng and other CCCI officials.

Under the project, a regular meeting/consultation is conducted among concerned government agencies and the business sector where issues will be raised and discussed for immediate plan of action. The main purpose for such regular consultation is to streamline, complement and coordinate activities, program and projects by both government and the private sector that are geared towards the development of Cebu’s economy.

During the launching, the CCCI will also conduct its general membership meeting and election of its 2007-2009 trustees while members will be updated on the planned activities of the Cebu Business Month (CBM) ’07 by CBM chairman Consul Samuel Chioson. Developments on other ongoing CCCI projects will also be presented by various chairpersons.

The venue of the launching activity and elections of the CCCI trustees is at the Ching Palace in Lahug, this city at 11:00 a.m. where the site will be dressed up with a Chinese New Year theme to usher the Year of the Fire Boar. (PIA)