AOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – A wide variety of local and handmade products from small businesses in Ilocos Norte are still up for grabs at the ongoing 27th Partuat ti Kailokuan Trade Fair at Robinsons Place Ilocos in San Nicolas town until this Wednesday, November 22.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ilocos Norte gathered some 98 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) from all the towns of the province to participate in the activity.
The week-long trade fair opened on November 16 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the DTI and local government officials in the province.
For Ronald Santiago, an exhibitor from San Nicolas, this is a great opportunity to promote their products such as organic miki noodles, native garlic, and longganisa, not only to fellow Ilokanos but also to tourists.
“This is the time na i-showcase natin ang mga local products sa ating mga kababayan para makilala ang probinsya hindi lang as a tourism destination kundi na rin home of quality and unique local products,” he said.
Longganisa, miki noodles, native garlic, chicharon, and other products locally produced in the town of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte are showcased during the 27th Partuat ti Kailokuan Trade Fair. (Charlene Abad, Intern)
Aside from fresh and processed foods, weaved baskets and bags, and inabel products, decorative miniature kalesas (horse carriages) are the highlight of the booth of the Laoag City.
The miniature kalesas are handmade by Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) from recycled magazines, according to J/INSP. Shiela Marie Sapaden, jail warden of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Laoag City.
“Ito ay gawa ng mga persons deprived of liberty sa loob ng bilibid. Ito ay produkto ng kanilang skills enhancement at livelihood project nila at magiging malaking tulong ito dahil ang profit ay mapupunta rin sa kanina,” she said.
Various fresh and processed foods, weaved baskets and bags, inabel products, and decorative miniature kalesas (horse carriages) are featured in the booth of Laoag City during the 27th Partuat ti Kailokuan Trade Fair in San Nicolas Ilocos Norte. (Charlene Abad, Intern)
In addition to the trade fair, there was also a free seminar on DTI loan programs and intellectual property rights of MSMEs, craft demonstration on loom weaving, and a skills training in coffee sensory and cupping for the exhibitors and other participants.
Moreover, Amelia E. Galvez, OIC-Provincial Director of DTI-Ilocos Norte, said the trade fair aims to promote and widen the market for small entrepreneurs and encouraged all Ilokanos to support and buy local.
“This is the 27th edition of the Partuat ti Kailokuan Trade Fair and it is a very special edition because it’s our first time to invite the LGUs as the lead exhibitors to the fair. In the previous years, yung mga exhibitors natin ay yung mga MSMEs talaga so very limited yung ating mga participants an MSMEs but now because we have the LGUs, sila na ang nag-consolidate ng kanilang mga MSMEs sa kanilang localities upang i-showcase and kanilang mga products dito so mas maraming MSMEs and na-cater,” she added. (JCR/MJTAB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
The Department of Trade and Industry and some local governemnt officials of Ilocos Norte led the ribbon-cutting ceremony to offifically open the 27th Partuat ti Kailokuan Trade Fair on November 16 at San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. (Charlene Abad, Intern)
Exhibitors from the town of Sarrat in Ilocos Norte pose for a photo opportunity with their products line binakol and wood carving crafts. (Charlene Abad, Intern)
