BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
TUGUEGARAO CITY (December 6)—The 16th Padday na Lima Regional Trade and Investment Fair of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has generated over P4 million in sales.
According to Manilyn Ponce, DTI Region 2 information officer, the sales cover the period from the opening of the trade and investment fair on November 25 up to December 1.
In support of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region, Ponce said the trade fair was conducted physically at Robinsons Place Tuguegarao and virtually through its online component using the Padday na Lima Webshop powered by Deliver-E.
She said the sales generated by the 107 MSME exhibitors and farmers from all over the Cagayan Valley region reached a total of P4,433,042 for booked and cash sales, including proceeds from the Padday na Lima Webshop.
Cagayan Valley comprises the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and the island province of Batanes.
JBM Food Products from Isabela province and the Quezon Vizcaya Furniture Industry Association from Nueva Vizcaya province recorded the highest total sales in the food and nonfood sectors, respectively.
Ponce said the DTI-Region 2 has introduced an upgraded version of this annual trade and investment fair with expanded trade show components, tagged as the first-ever All-In Edition.
“With this, the DTI aims to make the Cagayan Valley region’s products stand out in the domestic and global arenas,” Ponce said.
DTI Assistant Regional Director Winston Singun noted that the weeklong event featured investment opportunities, new product innovations, pre-processed institutionally packed products, Philippine National Standard-certified products, and research and development outputs.
Singun said the Padday na Lima trade and investment fair also featured new and improved products of Cagayan Valley that have undergone development through the different programs of the DTI with the assistance of the country’s top designers Stanley Ruiz, PJ Arañador and Njord Chua.
The DTI Region 2 said the first-ever Special Buyers’ Invitation Program was also implemented to support the region’s positioning as a significant institutional supplier.
Singun said this was done by bringing together major industry players from the National Capital Region and other nearby areas to assist MSMEs in selling their products and identifying potential business partners.
He noted that the sales are even expected to increase with additional sales still under negotiation in the Special Buyers’ Invitation Program or the Business-to-Business Matching component of the fair.
Singun explained that the “Padday Na Lima” which is an Ybanag vernacular that means “made by hands” or “hand-crafted” has been the banner of the DTI Region 2 for the marketing and promotions of the region’s various products.
He said the trade and investment fair is implemented annually to stage and provide exposure for the new and improved products of Cagayan Valley and help local MSMEs and farmers market their products and produce.
Meanwhile, Jose San Juan, co-founder of Farm to Mayani Inc., other institutional buyers, and event partners have expressed appreciation and lauded the agency.