MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The provincial government of Lanao del Sur through its Tourism Office spearheaded the first Meranaw Artisan Summit Tuesday, Sept. 27, to promote the craftsmanship and products of local artisans.

Provincial Tourism Officer Ahmad Nouraldinn Tamano Jr. said the summit forms part of the first 100 days development agenda of Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr.

The gathering, he said, aims to serve as a venue for the artisans to raise their concerns on the sustainability of their craftsmanship as well as provide a platform for them to exhibit their crafts and finished products.

"Matagal na kasing hindi nakikita yung importance ng artisans natin. So kanyang priority is ma-market ang mga artisans at kanilang handicrafts [the importance of our artisans has not been seen for a long time. So his priority is to market the artisans and their crafts]," he said.

The summit featured fora with six panelists each sharing experiences and insights on culture and creativity, financial literacy and cooperative sustainability, and how Meranaw artisans can thrive in a competitive market.

Tamano said the summit also seeks to encourage local artisans to form registered cooperatives so that they can avail of support from the local governments and other government agencies.

As initial support to boost their economic enterprise, the provincial government gave P20,000 financial aid to 25 registered cooperatives during the summit, benefiting roughly 100 artisans in the province.  (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)