In the spirit of the Christmas Season and helping our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) generate sales this coming Holidays, the Department of Trade and Industry – Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG), through its One Town, One Product Philippines (OTOP) in partnership with PLDT Home Biz, is truly inspired to present “PASALOVE 2: PASKONG OTOP”.
PASALOVE 2: PASKONG OTOP is an online marketing opportunity which will showcase OTOP products from all over the Philippines and will run from 5 November to 31 December 2021.
During this long running event, buyers will be able to meet, source, and connect to the OTOP homegrown regional exhibitors digitally via the web platform www.virtualtradeexpoph.com/expo/pasa-love-paskong-otop.
The Opening and Virtual Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies, attended by the DTI Heads led by Secretary Ramon Lopez and guest speakers who supported OTOP namely, Ms. Honeylet Avanceña, OTOP Ambassador; Senator Bong Go; Senator Koko Pimentel III; and Rep. Argel Joseph Cabatbat, of Magsasaka Party List and Author of OTOP Bill, and Linette Garcia-Perez, the Marketing Head of PLDT Home Biz, signaled the launch of this year’s installment of the “PasaLove” event through “Paskong OTOP”.
“With lowering alert level, with more mobility, we can expect a brighter and better Christmas.”
“The recovery is here. Ituluy-tuloy natin ito and with lowering alert level, with more mobility, we can expect a brighter and better Christmas,” Lopez said.
Despite the pandemic, MSMEs all over the country have worked diligently to keep their businesses afloat and OTOP recognizes their vital role in building back a better economy through generating sales online this holiday season with the support of the entire DTI-ROG led by Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona.
“Dito ipinakita na ang Christmas tradition of giving becomes more meaningful dahil nakakatulong tayo sa ating mga maliliit na negosyante.”
“Dito ipinakita na ang Christmas tradition of giving becomes more meaningful dahil nakakatulong tayo sa ating mga maliliit na negosyante lalo nga ngayong panahon ng pandemya by patronizing our local products,” Lantayona stressed.
Supporting the digitalization roadmap of the DTI, OTOP Philippines, headed by ROG Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga, will offer a free virtual platform that will enable MSMEs to gain wider market access and reach to showcase their products through electronic commerce.
“Ito ay handog namin sa aming minamahal na MSMEs kaya’t tayo nang mag PASALOVE! Kapag mayroong pagmamahal at pagtutulungan, may pag-asang darating—dahil ang galing ng Pilipino, tatak OTOP, Atin ‘To,” Du-Naga said.
After the success of the first installment of “PasaLove” in 2020, a video promotional campaign to “Buy Local, Give Local”, which featured videos of perfect-for-the holiday products such as gift and household items and food products from the 16 beautiful regions of the country, a surge of requests and inquiries regarding where to buy the featured products in the videos led to the collaboration of DTI Philippines and PLDT Home Biz for this next season of “PasaLove” using their online selling platform, Virtual Trade Expo PH.
“As part of our commitment to digitize home-based businesses in these trying times, and just in time for the holiday season, we are helping bring the biggest virtual trade expo to the homes of Filipino entrepreneurs,” Garcia-Perez said.
OTOP Philippines is a priority stimulus program that has been in existence since 2002 for MSMEs as the government’s customized intervention to drive inclusive local economic growth.
The program enables localities and communities to determine, develop, support, and promote culturally-rooted products or services where they can be the best at or best renowned for and remains to be a strategic tool that provides an ecosystem of assistance from local government units, national government agencies, and the private sector.
For more information about PasaLove 2: Paskong OTOP, please follow the official social media accounts of DTI Philippines, DTI Regional Operations Group, and OTOP Philippines on Facebook and in all other social media platforms.
