Treasures of Region 12 is now in Makati City

 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region XII has launched the 'Treasures of Region 12' Trade Fair, with the banner theme: “The Future is Local”, on December 6, 2022, at the Palm Drive Activity Center, Ayala Center, Makati City.

30 food and 10 non-food MSMEs participate in this trade fair. They are all assisted by DTI 12 under the Industry Cluster Enhancement Program-Coconut Cluster. LGU Cotabato City has also a booth in this trade fair.

DTI 12 OIC Regional Director Flora Politud-Gabunales said that the fair “focuses on the products produced by coconut MSMEs owing to the great potential of the industry and the competitive advantage of region 12 in terms of vast areas planted with coconut and the skills of locals to add-value using coconut as base product.”

“We recognize the vital role that the coconut MSMEs play in the local and national economy. DTI focuses on providing technical interventions that enhance MSMEs’ ability to be innovative and competitive. The Treasures of Region 12 is our platform to showcase in the bigger market the best of region 12 from delectable coconut food products to high-quality wearable and homestyle products made of coconut materials,” Gabunales said.

This is an effort of DTI 12 to pivot the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of region 12 from the drawbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the grandest trade fair of the region that showcases the best delectable products and stylish wearables, and homestyle items made by the local coconut producers, processors and coconut-supporting entrepreneurs of region 12.

DTI 12 aims to target 10M worth of sales through purchases from walk-in and institutional buyers. The four-day regional fair runs from December 6 to 9, 2022.

The Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) program funds the event, in which DTI is one of the implementing government agencies.

CFIDP aims to increase the income and productivity of the 2.5 million coconut farmers in the country; promote poverty alleviation, education, and social equity; and rehabilitate and modernize the Philippine coconut industry.

On June 24, 2022, the CFIDP was officially launched following the signing of Republic Act 11524, or the “Coconut Farmers and Industry Fund Act”.

With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ administration now focusing on the coconut industry through the use of the coco levy fund, various programs and projects are being executed to increase the productivity and income of coconut farmers, alleviate poverty, and achieve the twin objectives of rehabilitating and modernizing the coconut industry to attain social equity. This paved the way for the rehabilitation of the coconut industry through a multi-agency approach with DTI as one of the implementing agencies tasked to do research studies, marketing and promotion of MSMEs’ and farmer beneficiaries’ local products. 

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