PhP890,000 in BUB fund to boost southern Negros town entreps

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental has turned over Php890,000 in bottom-up budgeting (BUB) fund to the local government unit (LGU) of Valladolid, which is seen to boost entrepreneurs in the locality. (Photo: DA BFAR PFO Negros Occidental Bottom Up Budgeting BUB/Facebook)

BACOLOD CITY—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental has turned over Php890,000 in bottom-up budgeting (BUB) fund to the local government unit (LGU) of Valladolid, which is seen to boost entrepreneurs in the locality.

DTI-Negros Occidental Director Lea Gonzales led the turnover of check to the municipal government officials headed by Mayor Enrique Miravalles at his office in the southern Negros town, Tuesday.

Engiemar Tupas, senior trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the fund is under the agency’s 2015 BUB program.

Tupas said it is mainly intended for the development of the town’s OTOP (One Town, One Product) Store and conduct of product development activities including packaging and labeling trainings.

“The project is positioned to generate more income for entrepreneurs through improving their products and creating more enterprises in the town,” he said.

Under BUB program, DTI approves the funding of the project identified by the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT). The agency then monitors the implementation to be spearheaded by the recipient-LGU.

For the OTOP Store, the municipal government will develop an existing structure situated along the town’s port.

The establishment will mainly cater to local products mainly the town’s “hablon” or weaved cloth produced by various associations, as well as food produce like “bagoong,” dried fish, and mangoes, among others.

Tupas said it will serve as a Pasalubong Center that will offer domestic and foreign tourists a wide variety of truly Negros’ products.

The local government will have a counterpart for the development of the structure including additional facilities and refurbishments, Tupas also said.

“On top of helping local producers improve their livelihood by providing them steady market, the store will also help improve the town’s tourism sector,” he said.

For “hablon” specifically, producers already have established markets, some have been exporting it to US and other countries.

The OTOP Store and product development interventions which the program is providing will empower entrepreneurs to become more competitive, the DTI official added.