VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — The provincial government of Ilocos Sur highlighted the One Town-One Product (OTOP) of each of its 31 municipalities and two cities in the Tawid ken Kultura (Heritage and Culture) Trade Fair.

The trade fair was officially opened on Monday, Jan. 29, at the Govantes Dike in this city as part of the 2024 Ilocos Sur Festival.

Among these OTOP are the ‘Best Robusta Coffee in the Country’ from the coffee-farming towns of Sigay, Suyo, and Gregorio del Pilar, this city’s Longganisa and Bagnet, the Abel Iloco of the town of Santiago, and the garlic products of Sinait town.

Michael Escobar, the tourism officer of Santa Maria town, emphasized the new packaging of their OTOP, the Balicucha (a natural sweetener), which is now available in one-piece packets that also features cute designs and sweet messages.

Escobar explained, “These individual packs are more convenient for those who will use it for their coffee; so that they don’t have to open a large whole pack when they only need one for their drink.

“The demand for the Balicucha is high, as of this morning, we have already received a lot of reservations and some even from foreigners. It is also because the Balicucha is organic; it does not contain preservatives,” said Escobar.

The booth of the Santa Maria town, which was designed with the dried Sugarcane stalks, also offers other sugarcane products namely the Basi (fermented Ilocano wine), Muscuvado (sugar with strong molasses), and cane vinegar.

Escobar said, “I hope that those who have not yet tried the Balicucha will give it a go. This trade fair will run until Feb. 14, so they can look for booth number six of Santa Maria, so they can try this. If they’re not able to visit now, they can always visit us in Barangay Maynganay, Santa Maria where these are made.”

Jerald Anloague, a full-blooded Filipino born and raised in California, United States, visited the Tawid ken Kultura Trade Fair and praised the provincial government for organizing the event that showcases local products, calling it great.

Looking at the booth of Santa Catalina town covered in real vegetables in the form of a Bahay Kubo or nipa hut, Anloague said, “It has all the food cultures I remember of the Philippines everytime I come here, so this is so cool, I didn’t expect this. It is so nice that everything seems authentic here.”

Senator Mark Villar, the primary sponsor and author of the OTOP Law, was the guest of honor during the ribbon cutting.

In his message, Senator Villar said, “I am delighted to see the Ilocano products that you take pride in in this food and trade expo. As the chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the senate, I am happy to see Ilocos Sur’s perseverance in bringing their OTOP to the forefront to further boost the economy of their province.”

Moreover, there are 300 booths in the fair including the One Town, One Product (OTOP) food products, home improvement items, and clothes made in the province, and from the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) including twenty six provinces as far as Albay and Bataan.

Governor Jerry Singson encouraged the Ilocanos to take this opportunity to appreciate their roots by supporting the local industries. (JCR, MJTAB, ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)