‘Orgullo kan Bikol’ opens at
Megamall
LEGAZPI CITY – Bicol’s handcrafted products and ethnic food
delicacies take center stage anew at the 8th Orgullo kan Bicol
Regional Trade Fair as it opened Wednesday, October 20, at the SM
Megamall, 5th Level, Building B in Mandaluyong City.
Spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) the
products in focus for this year’s Bicol trade fair are giftware,
holiday décor, home furniture and furnishings, processed food and
wearables.
DTI Bicol regional director Jocelyn L.B. Blanco bared that the new
product designs will be offered for sale and for order-taking
during the fair. “Most of these designs are on abaca and handmade
paper-based.”
A total of eighty manufacturers are joining the trade fair. The
province of Albay has the highest number of participants with 23
exhibitors followed by Camarines Sur with 22 exhibitors. Sorsogon
and Catanduanes both have 11 exhibitors while Camarines Norte and
Masbate have five and two exhibitors, respectively.
The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP beneficiaries
being assisted by DTI has also joined with one booth per province
or a total of six booths.
The opening program was held in the morning of October 20 at Hall
C, 5th Level, Bldg. B, SM Megamall. Guests of honor were newly
designated Bicol Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD)
Imelda Nicolas, concurrent National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)
secretary-general, Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund F.
Villafuerte, Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC) chair, and
other Bicolano congressmen, governors, mayors, artists and
artisans, businessmen, members of the Regional Development Council
and other DTI officials.
This year’s theme is “Bicol SMEs: Matching Markets, Making
Niches”. The 8th Orgullo kan Bicol Regional Trade Fair is
sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry Region V and the
Philippine Exporters Confederation. The trade fair closes on Oct.
24. (ITCabanes)
