‘Buy local products for Christmas presents’

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

Three weeks before Christmas Day, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in lloilo appealed to Ilonggo consumers to buy Christmas presents from local producers and entrepreneurs.

Assistant regional director and concurrent provincial director for DTI-Iloilo Ermelinda Pollentes said consumers should patronize the wide array of locally made products in the region that can be used as Christmas presents.

“We really encourage our fellow Ilonggos and the entire region to buy products made by our own entrepreneurs. We have plenty of hand-woven products like bags and fashion accessories. They can also buy furniture, housewares and other locally made crafts,” she said in an interview on Saturday.

Pollentes said the region is noted for its food processing products. Hence, Ilonggo consumers have also the option to buy food products for their Christmas gifts.

“Aside from hand woven products, they can buy food items because Region 6 is noted for its food processing products. There are food products in every province,” she added.

According to Pollentes, the recent trade fairs organized by DTI have shown that products in the region have greatly improved especially in terms of packaging.

“Our recent Panublion showed that the products have really improved because we have several shared service facilities (SSFs) in the region that help our residents develop their products,” Pollentes added.

By patronizing local products, Pollentes said the consumers will not only help the producers but also contribute in enhancing the economic activity of their respective provinces.

“When they buy from the local, this will go back to the producers, and enhance the economic activities in the province where they have bought products,” she said.

Recently, DTI Asec. Ameenah Fajardo also appealed to the consumers to buy Christmas presents from small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“Buy gifts from small businesses. The neighbor who sells from the catalogue, women/mother entrepreneurs, artisans, shops in the neighborhood the baker who makes handmade sweets. Let the money reach ordinary people. Support our people, MSMEs and SMEs and create strong middle class,” she said.