DTI promotes digital transition of artisans, IPs

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched the National Arts and Crafts Fair (NACF) Artisanal Shop to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and Indigenous People (IPs) market their artisanal products online amid the COVID-19 pande

The NACF Artisanal Shop is a project of the DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) with the support of the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices and in partnership with CustomMade Crafts Center, Inc. (CMCC). This is powered by UnionBank GlobalLinker and features the finest collection of authentic and intricately designed heritage crafts by the IPs, local weavers, and artisans from 17 community partners from all over the Philippines.

DTI Secretary Ramon

DTI-BDTP Lopez said, “With our 2025 vision of a more inclusive and prosperous Philippines, the online NACF Artisanal Shop will give broader market access both locally and globally to the products of our artisanal communities. This, in turn, will create employment opportunities that will provide a decent income for our people and support our poverty alleviation efforts.”

The NACF Artisanal Shop is a one-stop online hub for products selected with the consumer in mind. The online platform features wardrobe staples such as neckties, scarves, earrings, and woven fabric face masks; home accessories such as baskets, planters, and pillowcases; trinkets and gifts for any occasion; snacks and wine; and an array of teas best paired with honey from the Philippine Forest Honey Network.

The CMCC was initiated by the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Program Philippines (NTFP-EP Philippines) as a collaborative network of non-government and community-based organizations that empower forest-dependent communities to work towards fair trade and sustainability. This year, CMCC has curated artisanal products from its partner communities from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Anchoring on sustainability, the CMCC advocates for safe environmental practices, research, and sets top quality standards for the production of products such as honey, textiles, and natural dyes.

Philippine traditional weaving and local artisans were put in the spotlight in previous National Arts and Crafts Fairs organized by the DTI-BDTP with the support of the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda. This year, the DTIBDTP is set to release the NACF Catalogue which will highlight and promote Filipino arts and crafts. Visit the NACF Artisanal Shop at https://nacf.linker.store/ to know more about the communities, their stories, and to support the DTI’s Buy Local, Go Lokal advocacy campaign. For regular updates on the projects of the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, get in touch with Director Marievic M. Bonoan at bdtp@dti. gov.ph or follow the BDTP’s social media accounts: @ DTI.BDTP on Facebook and Instagram, and @DTI_ BDTP on Twitter. (dti.gov.