TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) – After a three-year hiatus from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Trade and Industry in Region 8 (DTI-8) is bringing once again the Bahandi Eastern Visayas Trade Fair to SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City on October 11-15, 2023 to showcase innovative products from the six provinces in the region.

A total of 119 micro, small, and medium enterprises will again expand borders to access more markets – 35 from Leyte, three (3) from Southern Leyte, 14 from Biliran, 23 from Samar, 16 from Eastern Samar, and 28 from Northern Samar.

In a press conference held Monday, October 9, DTI-8 Regional Director Celerina Bato said the products to be showcased during the trade fair include best sellers food such as chocolate moron, binagol, suman, roscas, bud-bud, bukorillo, salvaro, atchara, tinapa, tahong, kalamansi concentrate, herbal turmeric tea, pili nuts, and non-food items like tikog bags, native banig, shell-based accessories, among others.

One of the highlights during the opening of the trade fair is the awarding of the Bahandi Eastern Visayas Trade Fair Trade Mark Registration by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

The registration gives the owner the exclusive rights to prevent others from using or exploiting the mark in any way.
DTI-8 sets the target sales in the five-day trade fair at P35 million.

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is expected to grace the activity, together with DTI Undersecretary Ana Carolina P. Sanchez, Undersecretary Blesilda A. Latayona, and Regional Director Bato. (LDL/CBA/PIA-8)