Bohol fibers to unroll At Visayas OTOP Fair

IF invitations do not get turned down, Bohol raffia from the 8 fiber entrepreneurs of Inabanga would unroll as key products from the Bohol delegation to the first Visayas crafts fair in Cebu this month. Also invited for the region's biggest craftmasters' and makers' selling and exposition event are 4 small to medium enterprises into handicrafts and souvenirs in Tubigon and one from Sagbayan.

Inabanga and Tubigon entrepreneurs would be displaying alongside with Alburquerque, Antequera, Sagbayan, Danao, Cortes, Garcia Hernandez, Clarin, Loon, Catigbian, Maribojoc and the Bohol Processed food Producers' Association at the fair on November 23-26, 2006 at the SM Trade Hall, Cebu City. Here, the best of the best crafted products from regions 6,7 and 8 also get their moments of glory in the local and international marketing window as the Department of Trade and Industry mounts the first OTOP Visayas Fair 2006.

The event will be a product showcase and trade fair that will highlight the OTOP Philippines Program, a flagship project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with the Local Government Units as its lead implementing arm. The event is expected to draw in the best of local products, it will also draw both local and international buyers as this will be the region's biggest marketing event of the year, said DTI authorities readying the event. With OTOPs aim to strengthen countryside development by promoting entrepreneurship and creating jobs, the trade fair provides a venue for LGUs and producers to showcase their OTOPs and the ingenuity of our local craftsmen. President Arroyo will grace the opening ceremonies together with other government agencies that have actively supported the program.

The marketing activity is also in line with establishing the Visayas as one of the supra regions in the country. From Inabanga, invited by the DTI trade fair and expositions committee are RJ Amor Handicrafts, Princess Artscrafts, 4-Rings Handicrafts, Bohol Beads and Fibers, PI Handicrafts, Venter's Handicrafts, 5As Handicraft and 3 SH-A Handicraft. From Tubigon, known exporters to establish a booth are Medidas Native Products, Bohol Countryside souvenir Enterprises, Tubigon Loomweavers MPC and LP Workers Handicraft, Bohol DTI Provincial Office's records reveal.

l