DTI, TAGUM LGU TO ESTABLISH OTOP TRIBAL DISPLAY CENTER

DTI-Davao del Norte Officer in Charge Romeo L. Castañaga (fourth from left) turned over a check worth Php2.4million pesos to Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon (fifth from left) on August 24, 2015 at the Tagum City Hall Grounds for the implementation of the Bottom up Budgetting (BuB) Program 2015 as witnessed by City Officials and Employees.

LGU Tagum City aims not only to promote local products but also preserve the culture of the different tribal groups in the city through the establishment of an OTOP Tribal Display Center  at the Tagum City Cultural and Trade Center where they can showcase their crafts and food products. The store shall be locally known as "Balay Sang Pamilyanan", a local phrase which means “a house to make purchases”.

The funding for the project is part of the Php2.4 million handed over by Department of Trade and Industry-Davao del Norte Officer in Charge Romeo L. Castanaga to Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon during the City Employees' Convocation Ceremony on August 24, 2015 at the Tagum City Hall grounds. The said amount represents the total fund to be used in the implementation of various projects under the Bottom up Budgeting (BuB) Program 2015.

“Five sub-projects are to be implemented in the city under this fund. Aside from the OTOP Tribal Display Center, other sub-projects include Safe Food Handling for Tagum City Night Market Vendors, Productivity Enhancement for the Food Processors Association of Davao del Norte, Capacity Building for IP Micro-enterprises, and Indigenous Product Development (Yaman Pinoy)”, Castañaga disclosed.

At least 100 night market vendors, 16 food processors, and 100 indigenous women are expected to benefit from these projects.

Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon (right) and DTI-Davao del Norte Officer in Charge Romeo L. Castañaga shows newly-signed Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of Bottom up Budgetting (BuB) 2015 during the MOA Signing and Check Turn-over Ceremony on August 24, 2015 at the Tagum City Hall Grounds.

BuB is a program of the national government which aims to achieve inclusive growth through provision of sustainable livelihood projects coming from the communities and LGUs.

Since the city is also known for its night market, several activities such as Good Customer Relations Training and Entrepreneurship Seminars will be conducted for the night market vendors. Trainings on Safe Food Handling shall also be given to improve food quality while safeguarding public health.

A manualization on Good Manufacturing Practices is also scheduled for the food processors in Tagum City as initial step for them to acquire a License to Operate (LTO) from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

DTI-Davao del Norte also has ongoing BuB projects in Talaingod, Panabo, San Isidro, Kapalong and Island Garden City of Samal. The agency is also set to implement the said program in the municipality of Carmen later this year.

DTI LAUNCHES NEGOSYO CENTER IN DAVNOR

The first Negosyo Center in Davao del Norte was launched by the Department of Trade and Industry – Davao del Norte Provincial Office in partnership with the provincial government under the auspices of the Provincial SME Development (PSMED) Council on August 5, 2015 at the DTI Building, Government Center, Mankilam, Tagum City.

The personage who led the launching of the DavNor Negosyo Center. From left to right: Program Officer Aram Fernandez of Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino Office, DTI-Davao del Norte Officer-in Charge Romeo L. Castañaga, Panabo City Mayor James Gamao, DTI-Regional Office XI OIC-Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi, Melanie Mendoza from the Office of Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, SP Chairman for Committee on Trade and Industry Vicente Eliot and Congressman Anthony del Rosario’s Executive Assistant Cesar Granada

The launching was led by DTI-XI OIC/Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi, Program Officer Aram Fernandez of Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino Office, DTI-Davao del Norte Officer-in Charge Romeo L. Castañaga, also with SP Chairman for Committee on Trade and Industry Vicente Eliot, Panabo City Mayor James Gamao, Congressman Anthony del Rosario’s Executive Assistant Cesar Granada and Governor Rodolfo del Rosario represented by Melanie Mendoza, and members of the Davao del Norte Provincial SME Development Council.

The newest Negosyo Center in Davao del Norte is now open and ready to cater to MSMEs.

The Center is now open to serve the MSMEs, declared Director Ambi, to provide them their needs in their business endeavor, from business registration, counseling, trainings and seminars and business information, among others, as mandated by RA 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act authored by Sen Bam Aquino. DTI is also partnering with financing institutions such as the Small Business Corporation (SBC) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to facilitate MSME’s availment of additional or starting capital for their business activities.

 “The services offered in the Negosyo Center are inclusive.  This means that anyone who wishes to go into business or expand their current business is always welcome at the center”, DTI-Davao del Norte Officer in Charge Romeo L. Castañaga said during an interview.

DTI-Davao del Norte Office in Charge Romeo L. Castañaga welcomes everyone to the Negosyo Center's Launching Ceremony.

OIC Maria Belenda Q. Ambi of DTI-Regional Office XI said that this project is a collaborative effort of government agencies tasked to assist in the development of MSMEs such as DOST which provides technology transfers and TESDA for skills trainings.

DTI-Regional Office XI Officer in Charge Maria Belenda Q. Ambi gave an overview of the Negosyo Center project to the PSMED Council and MSMEs present.

The Negosyo Center is open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It also conducts various trainings under the SME Roving Academy (SMERA) program of DTI.