The Department of Trade and Industry in Davao Occidental has continued to provide assistance to support business sectors in the province to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
DTI-Davao Occidental Provincial Director Joycelyn Bansalan said, “Nagpadayon gihapon ang among assistance (Our assistance has continued). But very focused on addressing the effects of Covid and at the same time to proactively minimize the effects of Covid to our business sector.”
Banlasan said that they are helping micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and local artisans by facilitating product development such as packaging, marketing, and promotion.
She bared that they have been assisting in the development and promotion of locally-produced products, like the Adlai grain, which is primarily found and cultivated in the province.
The agency has also been maintaining its One Town One Product (OTOP) Pasalubong Center that serves as a one-stop-shop for all locally-produced products in the province in coordination with the local government units.
The OTOP Store Balay Pahalipay website is also available for online transactions that is directly linked to the local producers, Banlasan mentioned during an episode of the “Gobyernong Balitaan” over Energy FM Digos in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency Davao del Sur/Davao Occidental.
Aside from product development and promotion, they have also provided, both food and non-food sectors, machinery and facilities in a form of shared-service facilities to boost production and help communities.
To develop the province’s aquaculture industry, they have provided facilities for fish drying and food processing, adding to the building that the provincial governor has given for the storage of the facilities and produce.
Similarly, local artisans have also given sewing machines and beads.
To improve the quality of cacao in the province, they have provided a fermentation facility and a facility for chocolate processing, and a coco-sugar facility for coconut. (PIA-XI/Antonino Oblianda)
