VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – To help entrepreneurs from Candon City and the 22 municipalities of the second district of Ilocos Sur to market their products, the city government organized a trade fair and exhibit at the trade center highlighting the ‘One Town, One Product’ (OTOP) of each locality.

The trade fair was part of this year’s Tobacco Festival which ran from April 10-17, 2024.

Mayor Eric Singson said this is the city government’s move towards creating a more competitive market for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) in the second district of Ilocos Sur, particularly for entrepreneurs of OTOP.

He said, “We selected the Candon Trade Center as the venue for this year's Tobacco Fest Trade and Exhibits Fair to ensure accessibility not only for the locals but also for visitors and passersby, thereby showcasing Ilocos Sur's best products to a wider market.”

He also emphasized the importance of constant improvement in the OTOP industry and keeping up with global innovations to remain competitive.

During the awarding ceremony on April 15, Santa Maria town won the “Best-Dressed Booth” award anew as they featured their OTOP – the famous sweetener ‘balikutsa’ or sugarcane candy, and other sugarcane by-products like wine, vinegar, and muscovado sugar.

“Congratulations to the creative and talented team led by Mrs. Sheila Sanidad and Mrs. Ofelia Lizardo and to the whole ‘balikutsa’ and sugarcane community!” the local government of Santa Maria stated in an online post.

Sugpon and Suyo towns were awarded the second and third places, respectively.

“It is important for our municipality to join this annual trade fair for us to promote our OTOP, which is the ube (purple yam) and its by-products like wine, jam, and chips, among others. The people of Ilocos Sur must know that we, at Sugpon, produce these delicious products,” said Maresol Sarmiento, Sugpon’s OTOP coordinator.

In an interview on April 18, Neo Lubrin, general manager of Sugpon Agriculture Cooperative (SAC), said they consider this as a milestone as this is the first time Sugpon received an award in the best-dressed booth competition.

Lubrin said, “We will allocate the prize towards SAC's operational funding requirements, which will benefit all members of the cooperative and improve our OTOP.”

Alma Cayan, coordinator of Burgos town’s booth, said trade fairs and exhibits play a vital role in helping not just the OTOP entrepreneurs but most especially the farmers who grow the products they sell.

Burgos town highlighted in their booth its OTOP – the ‘ballatinaw’ or red rice.

“Only a few people know about our OTOP “etag” or native ham. We are very grateful that this trade fair was opened to all municipalities of the second district of Ilocos Sur, this way, we can also promote our delightful OTOP to the public,” said Jake Bantioey, coordinator of Lidlidda town’s booth.

According to Loida Gacusana, coordinator of the trade fair and exhibits, the exhibitors garnered some P125,470 from the festivity. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ/KCCM, PIA Ilocos Sur)