Legarda champions MSMEs, artisans at National Arts and Crafts Fair

MANDALUYONG CITY—Senator Loren Legarda reaffirmed her decades-long support for Filipino artisans and micro-entrepreneurs at the opening of the 2025 National Arts and Crafts Fair (NACF) on Oct. 24 at SM Megamall’s Megatrade Halls.

In her keynote address, Legarda called the fair “a showcase of the Filipino soul,” praising more than 300 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for their creativity, resilience, and contribution to local economies.

“When you visit each and every booth, they represent the hands that toil, the brains that imagine, the soul of the community,” Legarda said.

She emphasized that these enterprises are not just selling products but also representing communities from the highlands of the Cordillera to the shores of Tawi-Tawi and the rural villages of Antique.

Legarda, principal author of the Magna Carta for MSMEs and the OTOP (One Town, One Product) law, underscored that her advocacy goes beyond legislation and includes direct support through funding, tools, training, and international exposure.

She highlighted that many exhibitors at NACF received aid from various government agencies such as DOLE, DTI, DOST, TESDA, and DSWD, showcasing true inter-agency collaboration.

“Each enterprise you see may have been supported by DOLE Kabuhayan, trained by TESDA, improved by the Design Center of the Philippines, or empowered by DOST’s science and tech programs,” she said.

The senator also called attention to the Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasures) present at the fair, recognizing them as symbols of cultural wealth and national pride.

She celebrated the support provided by the NCCA through programs like the Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs), many of which she said were saved from extinction by consistent funding and documentation.

Legarda praised DTI Secretary Cristina Roque, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, and Culture Secretary Kiko Benitez for their leadership in boosting MSME development and cultural preservation.

She noted that products available at the fair are offered at significantly lower prices due to government-subsidized logistics, with no commission charged and free booth space provided to vendors.

“The cost of everything you buy here is probably one tenth the price of what you see outside,” she said, urging the public not to ask for discounts from artisans who depend on daily sales.

Legarda also reiterated her commitment to financial literacy and marketing support, citing firsthand experiences of mentoring rural artisans to grow from small community projects to thriving micro-businesses.

“I’m not content with just writing laws or funding them,” she said.

“It is important we give them the physical platform so that they can show you the output of their hard work, perseverance, and ingenuity.”

The senator encouraged continued collaboration across government agencies, citing the importance of follow-through and monitoring of support systems beyond paper implementation.

“We see all the stories—talk to them, ask what else can be done to help them—so that a thousand more flowers may bloom,” she said.

She ended her speech by honoring the Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees again and reminding attendees to “buy local, support local, love local.”