“Padday Na Lima” Returns to Metro Manila; Flaunts Cagayan Valley’s Finest

Aiming to surpass last year’s P9.2M revenues generated, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Region 2 officially launched this year’s Padday Na Lima Regional Trade Fair at Festival Mall Alabang, Muntinlupa City last September 24.

In partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the 13^th year of Padday Na Lima features Cagayan Valley’s bountiful agro products – fresh and processed form, highlighting the Region as the leading producer of corn, rice, citrus, banana, pineapple, ginger, peanuts, mung bean, and lowland vegetables (pinakbet).

DTI-Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga complimented the convergent efforts of DTI and DA in supporting local farmers in increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring higher returns.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa Department of Agriculture kasi without the DA, ano naman ang inenegosyo namin? Dapat talagang paigtingin natin ang suporta sa mga magsasaka, turuan natin sila. All their products ay dapat i-product demo upang magkaroon ng merkado,” said Assistant Secretary Du-Naga as guest speaker during the opening ceremony of the trade fair.

Being the Program Manager of the One Town One Product (OTOP) Next Generation, Assistant Secretary Du-Naga also encouraged the participating micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to undergo product and brand development, through the OTOP Program, to achieve a more competitive innovation and a larger market. 

“Sabi nga ni Secretary Ramon Lopez, tulungan natin lahat ang MSMEs lalo na po ang mga OTOPreneur. Kaya naman ibinubuhos namin ang lahat ng atensyon sa kanila. Kayo na lang ang susuko pero ang DTI ay hindi susuko to support you,” Asec. Naga added.

“Padday Na Lima”, an Ybanag vernacular which means “made by hands”, has been the banner for marketing and promotion of exquisite Cagayan Valley’s products. This year’s trade fair is participated by 96 exhibitors, flaunting their trademark products from the Provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino, ranging from furniture and furnishings, processed food, fashion accessories, home decors, arts and crafts, wearbales, fresh fruits and vegetables, ornamental plants, among others. This is an opportunity for the people from around Metro Manila to enjoy the specialties from the provinces.

 

Padday Na Lima Regional Trade Fair runs through September 24-30, 2019. 

Gearing-up for Green Businesses

Baguio City - About a hundred entrepreneurs from the six Cordillera provinces and this city attended the Green Business Forum organized by the Department of Trade and Industry-CAR and the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) with speakers from attached bureaus, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a practitioner of organic farming.

The forum which was meant to prepare MSMEs to engage in green manufacturing for the so-called “Green Products” or “Green Food” tackled and discussed various topics such as exporting, green business and healthy living, upcycling, design, food, fashion, lifestyle and need to comply with certain regulatory requirements.

DTI-CAR Regional Director Myrna Pablo warmly welcomed the forum speakers and participants and challenged the later to go global with environmentally friendly and healthy foods mentioning the recently held training on Halal as part of the services offered by the government. She likewise emphasized that greening the environment is “the call of the times and should be given importance and urgency by our SMEs in CAR who should have a mindset of production and consumption sustainability”.

Export Counselor Rogelio Torre of EMB discussed how his office can help MSMEs explore direct sales promotion through business matching and facilitation of exporters who plan to meet foreign buyers. Torre added that his office handles inquiries from international importer and exporters and they facilitate outbound and inbound business missions for exporters who plan to visit a particular target market.

The EMB Export Counselor answered questions raised by the participants and further elaborated on the methods that foreign buyers utilize to pay products including tips on choosing a courier and foreign forwarder.

EMB’s Emerging Products Division Assistant Chief Alegria Donado introduced the concept of Green Business Certification that came about in the wake of the ever increasing public concern about the deteriorating natural resources.

Emphasizing the need to sustain resources for future generations, Donado cited adaptive measures and simple ways to green a business by eliminating plastic bottles, changing bulbs, recycling and reusing and “making green thinking a part of your company culture”.

On the topic of Organic Certification, Control Union-Philippines Program Officer Vincigwenn Cañedo cited the advantage of having certified organic products as there is a big market for it in foreign countries. There is a huge demand for green certified products and those bearing a quality seal are widely accepted globally Cañedo said.

Passionately sharing his experiences to the participants, Engr. Guillermo Saret of the National Organic Agriculture Board discussed the concepts and benefits of organic agriculture that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people to benefit the shared environment. The owner of Saret Organic Farmville, Saret also emphasized the need to sustain people, planet and prosperity mentioning his four principles of organic agriculture namely, health, ecology, fairness and care.

For her part, Division Chief Rowena Mendoza of the Center for International Trade Exposition Mission (CITEM) introduced the “Green Food Asia 2020” following the successes of its International Food Exhibition (IFEX) events held at the World Trade Center in Metro Manila. As a representative of the export promotion arm of DTI, she also encouraged the participants to be part of the upcoming events of Manila Fame international shows for design, food, fashion and lifestyle.

Andrew delos Reyes and Geonna Marice Santos, both Food and Drug Regulation Officers of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discussed how MSMEs can obtain a license to operate (LTO) and a certificate of product registration (CPR) from FDA as a requirement to ensure legal compliance for importation, exportation, and distribution of their products.

A focus group discussion ensued and the participants requested DTI-CAR and its attached bureaus to continually mentor Cordillera MSMEs to improve competitiveness through innovation, think global, think Asean while going local.

DTI Eyes Halal Products in CAR as Export Items

With the expanding market for Halal food and cosmetic products that caters to neighboring Muslim and Arabic nations including the country’s 10.7 Muslim Filipinos, the Department of Trade and Industry’s CAR Regional Office and the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) and the DTI Export Management Bureau (EMB) conducted a two-day Halal Training of Trainers on September 11-12, 2019 in Baguio City.

DTI-CAR Regional Director Myrna Pablo spearheaded the training and attended by the senior officials of key agencies from the tourism, agriculture, health, trade and industry, science and technology sectors as well as the academe who were given basic information and understanding on Halal as a way of life and the fundamental requirements for Halal food processing and manufacturing that conform to the specifications of the Philippine Halal Assurance System and eventual Halal certification of products and services. Likewise, the implementation of RA 10817 or Philippine Halal Development and Promotion Act of 2016, were conferred upon by the said converging agencies.

PTTC Training Facilitator Jezel Sunga discussed the training courses and workshops among the participants while PTTC Deputy Executive Director Nelly Nita Dillera outlined their training programs that are attuned to the administration’s Ambisyon 2040 that seeks to provide equal opportunities for all. Dillera also presented the Philippine Export Development Plan that hopes to enable Filipinos to be able to export up to 122 to 131 Billion US Dollars that includes Halal products.

Raison Arobinto, a Shari’ah and Halal Section Head of DTI-EMB spent most of the training hours explaining various Halal laws and practices to the participants including the food value chain. As a Sharia law practitioner, Arobinto gave an insight on Filipino Muslim culture, basic principles of Islam and nature of Shari’ah as the clear path to be followed by Muslims based on the Qurán. Arobinto emphasized on what are allowed and permitted on the foods, clothing and personal care, services, entertainment and finances among Muslims. He also presented the magnitude of Halal markets that local businesses can serve and Halal being a healthy and wholesome lifestyle can also be adopted by non-Muslim populace.

Furthermore, Arobinto noted that the Filipino Muslim population alone including the number of Muslim tourists in the country is already a big market for Halal products. During the interactive workshop with officers from DTI-CAR, DOST, DOT, DA, DOH and SLU, Arobinto also explained the processes and accreditation procedures in availing a Halal certification by interested MSMEs interested to get a Halal Certificate for their products.

With the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act of 2016 that recognizes the significant role of exports to national economic development, Arobinto in convergence with other concerned agencies are developing and promoting the whole value chain of Halal industries not only to increase market opportunities but to make Halal exports more competitive through product development, quality assurance measures and value-adding mechanisms to make the Philippines an active player in regional and international Halal markets.

With the first Halal Trainers Training in the Cordillera, DTI-CAR and PTTC hope to develop a pool of Halal trainers, develop Halal entrepreneurs to serve more Muslims, increase Muslim tourist arrivals and offer healthier way of life of Halal to all.