The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region XII has launched the Treasures of Region 12 Trade Fair, with the banner theme: “The Future is Local,” on December 6, 2022, at the Glorietta Activity Center, Palm Drive, Makati City.
Thirty food and 10 non-food micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) have participated in this trade fair. They are all assisted by DTI XII under the Enhancement Program-Coconut Industry Cluster. The local government of Cotabato City has also secured a booth in this trade fair.
DTI XII OIC Regional Director Flora Politud-Gabunales said the fair “focuses on the products produced by coconut MSMEs owing to the great potential of the industry and the competitive advantage of Region 12 in terms of vast areas planted with coconut and the skills of locals to add-value using coconut as base product.”
“We recognize the vital role that the coconut MSMEs play in the local and national economy. DTI focuses on providing technical interventions that enhance MSMEs’ ability to be innovative and competitive. The Treasures of Region 12 is our platform to showcase in the bigger market the best of Region 12 from delectable coconut food products to high-quality wearable and homestyle products made of coconut materials,” Gabunales added.
It is DTI XII's way to pivot the MSMEs from the drawbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic by having the grandest trade fair of the region that showcases the delectable foods, elegant wearables, and other homestyle items made by the local coconut producers, processors and coconut-supporting entrepreneurs of Soccsksargen.
Gabunales said they intend to target P10M worth of sales through purchases from walk-in and institutional buyers. The four-day regional fair runs from December 6 to 9.
The Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) program funds the event, in which DTI is one of the implementing government agencies.
CFIDP aims to increase the income and productivity of the 2.5 million coconut farmers in the country. It also promotes poverty alleviation, education, and social equity, including the rehabilitation and modernization of the Philippine coconut industry.
On June 24, 2022, the CFIDP was officially launched following the signing of Republic Act 11524, or the “Coconut Farmers and Industry Fund Act.”
With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ administration now focusing on the coconut industry through the use of the coco levy fund, various programs and projects are being implemented to increase the productivity and income of coconut farmers, alleviate poverty, and achieve the twin objectives of rehabilitating and modernizing the coconut industry to attain social equity.
The government is confident that this will pave the way for the rehabilitation of the coconut industry through a multi-agency approach with DTI as one of the implementing agencies tasked to do research studies, marketing, and promotion of local products of both the MSMEs and farmer beneficiaries. (Genory Vanz Alfasain/Sarangani Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.)
