Bacolod city: Two local government units (LGUs) in southern Negros Occidental, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), are set to launch their One Town, One Product (OTOP) hubs in September. Hinigaran town will inaugurate its OTOP hub on September 1, with Sipalay City following on September 12.
According to Philippines News Agency, this initiative aims to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promote local tourism, and support home-grown products, as stated by the DTI-Negros Occidental. The OTOP hubs in Hinigaran and Sipalay will offer a range of delicacies and handcrafted products created by local entrepreneurs.
Engiemar Tupas, chief trade-industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, previously mentioned that existing product showrooms in the cities of Kabankalan, Himamaylan, San Carlos, Sagay, and Talisay are also expected to be transformed into OTOP hubs. OTOP Philippines is a government flagship program that supports MSMEs through tailored government interventions to promote inclusive local economic growth.
Section 7 of the OTOP Philippines Act stipulates that products must align with culture, community resources, local connections, creativity, and competitive advantage. In Bacolod City, two OTOP hubs are currently owned and managed by groups of local producers: the Association of Negros Producers Showroom on South Capitol Road and the OTOP Lifestyle inside the Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
