ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — At least 24 Central Luzon-based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) recently participated in the 1st OTOP (One Town, One Product) National Expo and posted P3.3 million in total sales.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Information Officer Wilfred Carbonell disclosed that the MSMEs were able to jointly secure P2.659 million in immediate sales and around P659,000 in orders in the September 21-25 bazaar which was held in Trade halls 1 and 2 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

The five-day fair carried the theme “Great Choices. Great Value. Philippines’ Best!” and featured an array of distinctive products made by the residents of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao such as processed foods, home furnishings, ceramics, holiday decors, jewelries, fashion accessories, footwear, textiles, garments and semi-processed raw materials.

Carbonell added that Region 3’s booths were bannered by the hats and bags of Aurora, tuyo and tinapa of Bataan, barongs and gowns of Bulacan, longganisa and tocino of Nueva Ecija, lanterns of Pampanga, bamboo-engineered products of Tarlac and dried fruits and fruit jams of Zambales.

Carbonell explained that the OTOP was conceived in 2004 and patterned after Japan’s highly successful One Village, One Product (OVOP) program.