DAET, Camarines Norte (PIA) -- Thirteen micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in this province have showcased their products in the first One Town, One Product (OTOP) display nook at the posh Bagasbas Lighthouse Resort Hotel and Restaurant. 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the OTOP nook to promote local products and support MSMEs.

The Bagasbas Lighthouse Resort Hotel and Restaurant Inc (BLRHRI) and the 13 MSME owners established the OTOP nook through a memorandum of understanding.

The OTOP nook is located in the lobby of Catherine's Restaurant and showcases locally-made goods and delicacies.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the rich culture and resources of Camarines Norte by exploring the diverse range of products, from handicrafts to food items.

The 13 consignors of the OTOP nook include Amy's Cakes and Pastries, Chowder's Crochet, Edenric's Food Products, Fxdcord Local Handicrafts Manufacturing, Jireh Food Products, Joyra Hair Accessories Manufacturing, KnottedbyCheena Arts Services, Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Lola Tina's Cuisine and General Merchandise, Ray Scents Perfume Manufacturing, Resto Avenue Food, Inc., Tiang Mada's Food Products, and Viboys Food Enterprise.

The OTOP nook displays 75 food and non-food products, including pineapple, pili, and coconut-based products, as well as delicacies like masapodrida, kinakaw, puto, donut, sortidos, veggie chips, malunggay powder, turmeric powder, peanuts, banana chips, rice brew, atsara, macapuno jam, chicharon, cookies, oatmeal raisin, sampaloc juice, sinantol, biscocho, and more.

According to DTI Regional Director Dindo Nabol, the OTOP nook

was a pandemic response initiative when he was the provincial director of DTI Albay Provincial Office.

The OTOP nook is now being adopted throughout the country, and Camarines Norte's OTOP nook is the 15th in the Bicol region.

Imelda Lee, who owns Edenric's Food Products, expressed her appreciation for the initiative during the launch, along with the 12 other consignors.

“We are thankful to the DTI for their all-out support in our business journey,” Lee said. 

Lee said that DTI provided them with entrepreneurial enhancement training, packaging and labeling assistance, acquisition of the Food and Drug Administration - License to Operate, access to markets, as well as advisory services, among others.

She also thanked the BLRHRI management for providing them space to display their products.

BLRHRI President Kristal Comia expressed her gratitude to the DTI for the initiative and praised the products being produced by each consignor.

She said that the OTOP nook enhances the guest experience and fosters greater appreciation for the rich culture of Camarines Norte.

“We are thrilled to officially launch this project that enhances the

guest experience as well as fosters greater appreciation for the rich culture of Camarines Norte,” Comia said. 

Provincial Director Christie Rivera said that the OTOP nook was a good avenue to showcase and sell the products of the MSMEs in the province, and assured that they will provide the necessary assistance for both consignors and consignees of the OTOP nook.

The launching event was attended by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Camarines Norte president Mergie Moraleda and Provincial Administrator Don Eduardo Padilla.

The BLRHRI is located along Cory Aquino Boulevard, Bagasbas, Daet, Camarines Norte and is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (PIA5/Camarines Norte)