One Cebu Expo 2012 showcases over 100 locally-made, DTI-supported goods

By Fayette C. Ri�en

Friday 3rd of August 2012

CEBU CITY, August 3 (PIA) -- Over 100 Cebu-made products supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu under its ‘One Town, One Product’ (OTOP) Program are on showcase starting today with the launching of the One Cebu Expo 2012.

Gov. Gwen Garcia led local officials and exhibitors in the ribbon-cutting late this morning to signal the launching of the event that will run for 11 days from August 3 to 11 at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

Around 450 exhibitors are participating in the annual event as the expo features Cebu products including furniture, delicacies, toys, fashion accessories, houseware and local tourism attractions.

Nelia Navarro, provincial director of DTI Cebu, said with the over 100 OTOP goods on display, more than 50 of these products are supported by their respective local government units.

“There are more than 100 OTOP goods that are showcased here today. And more than 50 of these products are under the OTOP of local government units in Cebu,” said Navarro.

Navarro said the expo is one of the venues where LGUs and other micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can display their OTOP goods and other products including those of export-quality.

One Cebu Expo, which is an initiative of Gov. Garcia, began five years ago or in 2008 with only about 188 exhibitors on its first trade fair. Last year, it had 360 exhibitors which this year grew to 450 exhibitors participating in the yearly event.

“This year has the biggest number of LGus joining the expo,” which Navarro claimed has helped MSMEs and LGUs significantly promote their popular products and local tourism sites.

This year’s event also boasted of its “three firsts” which were the participation of the Portrait Artist Society of the Philippines and the different universities and chambers of commerce as well as the free film showing of Visayan movies.

Among the LGUs that joined the event were the municipalities of Borbon which showcased their ‘Takyong’ delicacy, edible bush ‘snails’ in corn oil; Bantayan Island’s dried fish and squid; Liloan’s rosquillos; and Dalaguete’s aqua attractions.

The One Cebu Expo is just one of the major highlights of the 443rd anniversary of Cebu Province on August 6. (PIA-Cebu)