MikeLigalig.com

Siquijor adopts "One Town, One Product" program
by R. Calibo
Dumaguete City (29 June 2005) -- All towns in Siquijor province are finally set to enhance each town's "specialty" for the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program.

DTI Provincial Director Ma. Elena C. Arbon said OTOP is a program that allows the locality to focus and converge on a priority product and a branding mechanism that allows people and markets to associate a product to a locality's culture, raw materials and skills.

Under the said program, the following "specialties" have been identified by the towns: banana production/processing for Talingting (Enrique Villanueva); coconut processing for Maria; woodcraft for Larena; ceramics for Lazi; dairy production for San Juan; and tourism for the town of Siquijor.

An adaptation of Japan's successful OTOP program, OTOP Philippines is a priority program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs.

Negotiators in the next World Trade Organization talks are instructed to take special note of the Philippines' concern of obtaining new market access for its products while preserving needed flexibilities for special products in the agricultural and industrial goods sectors.

The National Economic and Development Authority expects the country's domestic economy to improve slightly in the second half due to better farm production.

Through OTOP, Arbon said local chief executives will take the lead in identifying, developing and promoting a specific product or service which has a competitive advantage. (PIA)

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=88281.0