Mary had to time out early from the office that Friday afternoon and rushed to the nearest Lighthouse store in Tuguegarao City to grab a box of Chinchabao and packs of Alcala Milk Candy hoping going she can still catch the last trip of Victory Liner to Sampaloc, Manila as her niece, who is in her 12 weeks of pregnancy is craving for Tuguegarao and Alcala’s best selling local products.
Mary said much of her niece’s cravings, there are no outlets selling such products in Manila. But thanks to the Department of Trade and Industry’s unending quest for innovation because now, wherever you are in the country at whatever time of the day, your cravings for your home province's products can already be accessed right on your phone.
Yes, with the DTI Region 2’s desire to help our One Town One Product (OTOP) Hub operators to increase their efficiency, major outlets of local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) have pursued market digitalization using the e-commerce platform powered by Deliver E.
The “Padday na Lima Webshop is an online market where shopping is made easy as you can just tap your phone and voila, your orders will be delivered to your doorstep.
While the pandemic has caused many struggles and difficulties, there were bright ideas that came out as a result of limited face-to-face interactions
In the commerce industry, there has been a shift in the demand from brick-and-mortar retail to e-commerce. People turned to online shopping more than before.
DTI said 67% of consumers revealed that they shop differently now because of the COVID-19 threat and experts says digitalization has a significant impact on productivity and profitability.
Indeed, the pandemic greatly affects almost all sectors, and our OTOP hubs were not spared, Director Leah Pulido – Ocampo said and this is the reason why they came up with strategies to promote the local products of the region across boarders by removing all geographic limitations to generate more sales and help more MSMEs.
Even after the pandemic, DTI said online shopping is here to stay as everything can now be bought online.
Assistant Regional Director Winston Singun encouraged MSMEs to go digital, hence, a digital platform is necessary for the region.
Aside from online platform, the department continue to provide promotional avenues for MSMEs like the regular conduct of the Padday na Lima Trade Fair, and the establishment and maintenance of pasalubong centers/OTOP Hubs, among others.
Undersecretary Blessila Lantayona of the Regional Opertions Group commend DTI 2 through Director Ocampo for expanding its market reach of MSMEs.
“I salute your never ending joy to innovate and empower consumers,” the undersecretary said in her message of support during the launching of the Digitalized OTOP Hub Stores recently.
In the region, there are four established OTOP Hubs namely OTOP Hub Tuguegarao City Airport located at Pengue Ruyu, Tuguegarao City; OTOP Hub Santiago City located at ITC Four Lanes, Malvar, Santiago City; OTOP Hub Bayombong located at Pasalubong and Livelihood Center, Magsaysay, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya and OTOP Hub Gattaran located at the Visitors Pavillion in Nassiping, gattaran, Cagayan.
The fifth and sixth namely OTOP Hub Cabbaroguis of Quirino and OTOP Hub Basco in Batanes are expected to be launched within the year.
While some OTOP Hubs do not have access to internet, the DTI distributed wifi modem for them and provide assistance in uploading their products in the platform.
Gedielyn Paje, owner of the Manjou’s Wild Pure Honey, is thankful for the support DTI has given her particularly in the midst of the pandemic where she experienced financial constraint. Her products are among the items displayed by DTI in some pasalubong centers. She too, is a beneficiary of DTI’s different trainings and beneficiary of packaging materials.
Recently, DTI has ushered micro enterprises in the digital world through its Digital Journey for Micro Enterprises webinar series – a way to promote digital awareness and transformation among MSMEs in the region.
