CORTES, Bohol, Aug. 1 (PIA) -- For the first time in its long history, the annual Sandugo products exhibit launched two major products which are results of the year-long products development training and marketing of local entrepreneurs assisted by the government’s trade and industry department.

The product launching of Roselle Wine of Ubay and Black Plum Vinegar from Dimiao as well as the presentation of the entries for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-assisted Trash Solutions highlighted this year’s five-day blended selling event that drew 45 local exhibitors, according to DTI SME Development Division Chief Vierna Teresa Ligan.

Trash Solutions is another DTI project with Consumer Welfare Groups in Bohol which allowed city schools to compete in trash upcycling into wearables, and fashion wear, gift items, and home accessories.

The winning designs would be innovation ideas for entrepreneurs’ adoption and mass production.

The display of Boholano ingenuity, billed as Mugnang Bol-anon Pop-Up Exhibit feature product lines of DTI and Bohol Small Medium Enterprises Development Council (Bohol SMED-C), assisted exhibitors in a five-day blended online and physical selling at the Activity center of the Island City Mall  from July 26-31.

An annual activity that was a brainchild of now DTI Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Asteria Caberte, the product exhibit featuring the best of Boholano creativity after getting technical assistance in product development, innovation and marketing, turned out to be a Regional Showcase in pre-pandemic times.

Acclaimed as the longest running trade fair and products exposition in the country, the event attracted hundred of exhibitors and market matching buyers, investors and entrepreneurs, raking millions of revenues for local craftsmen, basket and loom weavers, and artisans.

Amid the pandemic, however, the DTI and the SMED-C still managed to put up a venue for Boholano entrepreneurial resilience in a new way of business: bouncing back stronger. 

Still standing strong, creativity intact and perseverance enduring, the Boholano entrepreneur has found a promising path to the future, said Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap in his message.

When the pre-COVID Regional Trade Expo attracted high sales, and was a good time for MSMEs to increase their sales through various markets, this time they served their respective markets through online and on-hand selling following strict health and safety protocols, explained DTI Bohol Director Maria Soledad Balistoy during the opening program.

Often surpassing their sales targets, the exhibit this year was a blended experimental selling by 45 exhibitors and still managed to hit their P350,000 target. 

This year’s Mugna’ng Bol-anon Pop-Up Exhibit also featured four special settings: Great Women Project 2 or products of women groups in the Province as a Canadian Government project assistance and showcase Boholano cacao into tableya (chocolate), ginger, and the local but nationally rated organic coffee.

There were also processed food, including the delicacies, wearables, and homestyle as well as the "Trash Solutions" project.

Given the highlight were Roselle Wine by Mountain Magnet owned by Mercedita Darunday Luzano of Ubay and Black Plum "Lomboy" vinegar of Pagsa MPC chaired by Vivencia Adaya of Pagsa Dimiao. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)