SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Christmas came early for 156 small and medium enterprises in Central Luzon as they overshot their target of P35 million in earnings from the recent Likha ng Central Luzon trade fair held at the SM Mega Mall Trade Hall in Mandaluyong City.
Malou Balano, executive director of Philexport in Central Luzon, said the enterprises’ earnings reached P40 million based on the initial returns from the four-day trade fair.
Digna Romero, trade and industry supervisor of the Department of Trade and Industry in Central Luzon, said they cannot yet determine the top province or enterprise top-grosser as they are still validating the figures.
“We have to determine the top grosser based cash on book and purchase order [PO],” Romero said.
The trade fair is the showcase of the best products under the One Town, One Product program of the DTI in support of the Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation of the seven governors in the region.
The local manufacturers who participated in shows with their markings include 47 Vida Pampanga, 35 with Tatak Bulacan, 21 Taas Noo Novo Ecijano,16 Natural Tarlac,13 of Galing Bataan,13 Siempre Aurora, and 11 with Zambales’ Finest.
Balano said the products underwent development like levelling, design, and other improvements, aimed not only for local market all but also to compete in the global market.
The products include processed food, handicrafts, gift, toys, furniture made of wood and wrought iron, housewares, holiday decor, ceramic, jewelries, fashion accessories, bags, footwear, and other novelty items made of renewable and eco-friendly materials available locally.
Most of the buyers were locals, but some exporters and foreign buyers were represented by their agents based in Manila.
Likha ng Central Luzon, which is on its 19th year, was proven to be effective in marketing the products of the region to local and international markets and at the same time helping the SMEs, the backbone of the economy.
Aside from DTI and Philexport, other agencies that assisted the 156 enterprises in the trade fair were the Regional Development Council and the Department of Science and Technology.