Various micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) once again took part in this year’s 5-day Tabo ha EVSU: Kadiwa Trade Fair in celebration of its 118th Founding Anniversary Celebration from February 17 until February 21.

The 5-day activity provides an avenue for local farmers, exhibitors, and entrepreneurs in the region to showcase their consumable and non-consumable products and goods such as vegetables, local sweets and delicacies, as well as handcrafted products.

This trade fair was in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and JCI Tacloban Kankabatok.

DTI Provincial Director Aracelli D. Laraga proclaimed that the DTI aims to observe its five strategic agendas, namely digitalization, diversification, funding, franchising, and mentoring ifor the various participating MSMEs in this year’s trade fair.

Laraga further emphasized that digitization focuses on providing digital platforms, whereas diversification focuses on upgrading the product’s packaging and size.

“We’re now preparing platforms that would go digital. Not necessarily face to face. With regards to digitalization, they would use Gcash as their mode of payment. It’s part of the digitalization. The diversification focuses more on updating their packaging and also innovating product size (bite-sized),” Director Laraga said.

Moreover, Georgina Orbeta, an exhibitor of Canfaba Farmers Agrarian Reform, shared her sentiments on the digitalization, particularly on the use of application for cashless transactions.

“That’s a good idea. Although some would prefer na cash la gihapon because they don’t have the app, etc. So I think we will adopt to that, so that they can have options, both can be okay because we are looking to digitalization. We also want our consumers, our buyers, to adopt to their needs. We would be flexible. We can do both ways, cashless and at the same tine we’re ready iftheg dont have the app. Although we dont have it now,” Orbeta said.

Orbeta’s products offered wearables such as slippers and booklets, as well as consumables including bite-sized snacks and coconut products.

Furthermore, other entrepreneurs and exhibitors who partook the trade fair was also in congruent with the concept of digitalization and diversification as they embrace innovation in producing and manufacturing of their products.

Article by Liziel Ann Altejar