Rey Anthony Chiu

A woven raffia products producer came home to Bohol with P21-M in cash and booked sales bagging the biggest sales generated in the five- day national crafts fair held last week. For that feat, P1 Handicraft, from Inabanga, Bohol won the Top Seller Award for Non-Food Category during the recently concluded 2011 National One-Town-One Product (OTOP) Fair held at Mega Trade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bohol. P1 Handicrafts manufactures loom-woven raffia rolls, placemats, table runners and coasters, wall frames, hanging curtains, buntals, nito and wickers baskets as well as other indigenous-material made souvenir items and novelties. Over the achievement, DTI-Bohol Provincial Office said its is more than happy with the results of the National OTOP Fair. “Our loom-wovens, gift items, home decors, fashion accessories and souvenir items gained interest from both local buyers and exporters”, said DTI Bohol’s Marisol Balistoy, Chief of the DTI’s Business Development Division here. Negotiations on the possible supply of the said products especially the loom-wovens are now on-going, she said hinting the realization of the project goals.

This project aims to promote entrepreneurship and job creation, DTI said. The fair was aimed to bring to local and international buyers the country’s provinces showcasing their best Philippine-made products, according to sources from the DTI. The fair also brought to the taste buds and fashion senses of Filipinos and internationals various delicacies, fresh and processed foods, health and wellness products, fashionable bags, unique handcraft, accessories, all given the shelves to officially display them as the best in their towns, according to DTI. Products under the OTOP banner went through skills, knowledge, and labor of local folk in creative use of easily available indigenous materials, DTI said. The agency also pointed out that the OTOP national expo is a convergence of the  OTOP  Island  fairs conducted during the last three years in Luzon, Visayas, and  Mindanao. Aside from P1 Handicrafts, other Bohol exhibitors include Tubigon Loomweavers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. with total sales of P0.350M and FM Gems Collection with total sales of P0.058M.