DTI slates OTOP showcase in Ayala

The Department of Trade and Industry is mounting the One Town One Product (OTOP) Premium Product Showcase in Ayala Center Cebu on November 17-19 as it demonstrates the massive potential of the grassroots level of the food and non-food industries in Central Visayas.

The product showcase will be mounted at the Paseo Solana in the said mall.

DTI regional director Asteria Caberte said that the event will feature products of local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that have undergone product development workshops conducted by the department under the OTOP Program.

MSMEs participating in the OTOP Premium Products Showcase will also supply products for the Go Lokal stores, Tindahang Pinoy, trade fairs and other market access platforms used by the DTI, according to Caberte.

The DTI official explains that the OTOP Program is a leveling up process that focuses on new variations, better products that have significant improvement in the areas of quality, design, standards, compliance, marketability and production quality.

Around 100 MSMEs in Central Visayas took part in the recent OTOP Next Gen Screening, Assessment and Triage (SAT) sessions in Cebu City where experts from the Design Center of the Philippines and from the private sector evaluated potential OTOP products.

The DTI urged those MSMEs who want to participate the upcoming OTOP Premium Product Showcase to inquire with the agency.

OTOP Next Gen also seeks to improve the competitiveness of the local products identified in the program.

It specifically gives emphasis to product development, branding of these products and how well these can be presented to the consumers.

This is an improved and upscale version of the OTOP program which promotes products of the specific towns.

OTOP Next Gen products are being evaluated or assessed according to the quality, design, packaging and labeling, marketability or market access, production and delivery capacity, financing capability, cultural value, innovation, and customer experience.

Among the products that DTI had previously assessed were delicacies, home accessories, bags, bottled sardines, and fashion accessories, among others.

OTOP is a government program that supports MSMEs to manufacture, offer and market distinctive products or services through the use of indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents.