2nd Visayas OTOP fair earns P3M, Region 6 top seller
BY VENUS G. VILLANUEVA

OTOP fair. Tourists check on the products displayed by around 100 small and medium producers from the Visayas during the 2nd One Town One Product (OTOP) Fair in Boracay Island (NBurgosJr)

BORACAY - The recently-held 2nd Visayas OTOP Fair in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan joined in by three Visayan regions – 6, 7 and 8 netted a total of P3,105,321.50 in sales.
Figures provided by the Department of Trade and Industry here revealed that the top seller in the fair was Region 6 comprised by the provinces of Western Visayas, which earned a total of P2,220,450.00 in cash, booked orders and under negotiation arrangements; while Region 7 earned P545,386 in cash and booked orders, and Region 8 – P339,485.50 in cash, booked orders and under negotiation arrangements.
The Visayas OTOP Fair was held from May 23 to May 27 at the La Carmela de Boracay Resort, Boracay Island.
Of Region 6’ more than P2 million sales, P1,674,590.00 was generated by the province of Aklan with Yabut’s Pottery of Lezo, Aklan (pottery being the OTOP (One Town, One Product of Lezo) as the top seller.
Some 102 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from the three regions participated in the OTOP Fair, according to DTI-Aklan.
The 2nd Visayas OTOP Fair focused on selling the products produced by the SMEs of the three regions.
OTOP is one of the priority programs of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs in the countryside.
OTOP also encourages the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to produce and market distinct products or services using indigenous raw materials and manpower of every municipality or city.
The 1st OTOP fair was held in Cebu in 2006. It focused on product development initiatives of the DTI highlighting the tourism and market potentials of the Supra Region, the Central Philippines. Sales generated was P3.77M for the 4-day fair.
This year’s Visayas OTOP Fair in Boracay Island had Sec. Cerge Remonde of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and at the same time the SME czar as keynote speaker.