DTI trade fair features locally made products

IN celebration of International Women’s Month in Nueva Ecija, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) held a trade fair in Cabanatuan City that featured locally made products of women.

On March 16, DTI Officer in Charge Regional Director Brigida Pili shared that the women’s month is also a celebration of the vital participation of women in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Programs such as trade fair and webinars for women are “bahagi ng mandato ng DTI na may layuning mapaunlad ang mga nagnenegosyo (part of [the] DTI’s mandate that aims the further growth of microentrepreneurs),” Pili said.

She added that MSMEs “70 porsyento ay binubuo ng mga kababaihan (70 percent is made up of women).”

Cabanatuan City Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara ensured continuous support from the local government to microentrepreneurs to boost economic activities and uplift the community.

Featured products are food chili chips, gourmet tahong, buro, chili oil, among others and non-food items, among others.

Last week, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said, “As we foster inclusive and sustainable development, we also aim to level the playing field for women.”

Currently, about 313,608 business registrations belong to women, which Pascual remarked, “This only proves that they are great contributors to the country’s economic growth and expansion postCovid-19. They have broken glass ceilings and surpassed societal expectations.”

The department also provides alternative and accessible sources of financing through their financing arm — Small Business Corp. — in support of women entrepreneurs. Furthermore, there are also available programs for women, namely Rural Agro-industrial Partnership for Inclusive Development Growth Project, She Trades Philippines and Investing in Women Asia.