DTI brings Boracay MSMEs to mainstream market

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is bringing more products from Boracay to malls and supermarkets in key cities in the country as part of its assistance program following the closure of the island to tourists.

The DTI recently opened the Bagong Buhay Boracay store in Makati which features food delicacies, wearables, fashion accessories, home décor and souvenir products from 21 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Boracay.

“This is just the beginning of bringing Boracay products to the mainstream market. We will continue to extend financial, technical, design, and marketing support to our MSMEs in the area even after the island re-opens,” Lopez said.

The agency said it is essential to provide new market access to the MSMEs from Boracay as they primarily depend on their daily income to survive.

“We guarantee our MSMEs that DTI will keep on providing holistic assistance for their products in terms of microfinancing support through the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso, product development, and innovation. Apart from these, we also help them in branding, marketing strategy development, and market access through Go Lokal! stores as well as of One Town, One Product Philippine hub,” Lopez said.

Aside from malls and supermarkets, DTI also intends to bring the products to pasalubong centers, airports, seaports and jetty ports in Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo.

Lopez earlier estimated that about 430 entrepreneurs in the gifts and souvenirs sector alone would be affected by Boracay’s closure.

“In the coming weeks, we will be launching other events to bring the Boracay experience to the metro. We will have Boracay Festivals in Manila wherein apart from the products we can buy in the island, we will also bring in the activities the island is famous for, such as fire dancing, tattoo artists, hair braiders, caricature artists and more,” Lopez said.