DTI-Iloilo urges consumers to buy local products

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Iloilo urged consumers to buy locally-produced products as gifts this holiday season to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) recover from the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The agency made the call during the launching of the 2022 Artesanias de Iloilo Trade Fair on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2022 at Festive Walk Mall, Iloilo City.

“These are new products and we want to help the MSMEs to recover. They will also be enrolled sa amon nga program on product development next year, and we want them to be registered kay that at the same time consumer protection also,” DTI-Iloilo Provincial Director Ma. Dinda R. Tamayo said in an interview.

The trade fair is one way for the MSMEs to promote their products in the local market and to enhance the knowledge and skills of the exhibitors in understanding market requirements through customer transactions and interactions.

Tamayo said the products on display during the five-day trade fair underwent intensive product development on taste, shelf-life, packaging, and labeling.

DTI-Iloilo is also eyeing to generate up to P3.5 million in sales from the 2022 Artesanias de Iloilo Trade Fair, including book orders and under negotiations, as the fair will run from Nov 30 to Dec 4, 2022.

There are around 80 participating local exhibitors this year which offer different locally-made products, like bamboo, coconut, cacao, coffee, wearables and other processed food.

Tamayo said they only allowed products that underwent product development programs such as packaging and labeling training to join this year’s trade fair.

“For food, we try really to showcase those that are registered with FDA, if ever you see ang mga products nga wala registration, these are the new products, and we want to help the MSMEs with that,” Tamayo said.

“We want also to present Iloilo nga hindi lang siya source sang Batchoy, source sang Pancit Molo, but you know you will be amazed at the type, quality and diversity of the products,” she added

This is the third time that the Artesanias de Iloilo Trade Fair was conducted after it was launched in 2019 as part of the trade promotion events of DTI Iloilo.