CALAMBA CITY (PIA) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Laguna Provincial Office continues to assist Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the province to leverage their businesses, as the government pushes forward local economic growth.

At least 20 food and non-food local manufacturers in Laguna have recently attended the DTI Laguna’s Assessment, Consultation, and Triage (ACT) Session as part of the One Town, One Program Next Generation (OTOP Next Gen) program.

The OTOP Next Gen Program is a priority stimulus program for MSMEs as one of the government’s initiatives in driving economic growth. It also enables localities and communities to determine, develop, support, and promote culturally rooted products or services prominent to their localities.

According to DTI Laguna, the program introduces businesses to an ecosystem of interventions, while providing them assistance to level up their products and services in terms of design, quality, and volume.

DTI Undersecretary Ana Carolina Sanchez congratulated the ‘OTOPreneurs’ for their active participation and willingness to further improve their products and assured full support to the MSMEs.

She said that once the proposed OTOP Philippines Act of 2022 is approved, DTI will be able to provide assistance and accommodate the needs of more MSMEs to strengthen local economic activities and boost national economic growth.

As part of the product development session, the identified local products of the MSMEs were assessed and evaluated to determine the interventions needed for product development. Guest designers meanwhile, provided a plan of assistance for the manufacturers which will serve as a guide for future designs that may be used to improve their products and services. (CH/PIA-Laguna; with reports from DTI Laguna)