DTI puts up 58 Go! Lokal, upgrades over 100 OTOP stores

FILE: Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez announces during a press briefing at the International Media Center (IMC) in New Delhi, India on January 25, 2018 that the Philippines and India has entered into nine agreements that aim to expand and strengthen the trade and investment relationship of both countries. YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said the agency has currently established 58 Go! Lokal stores and upgrading more than 100 One Town One Product (OTOP) stores nationwide.

On the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the 2018 Sikat Pinoy National Trade Fair Wednesday, Lopez said these initiatives are part of the market access programs of DTI for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

To date, more than 350 SMEs supply to Go! Lokal stores, with over 80 SMEs successfully penetrating the mainstream market since it started March last year.

Under the Go! Lokal program, the DTI is partnering with mall operators to provide space inside their establishments free of charge to host quality products of MSMEs.

Go! Lokal store is also a platform for MSMEs to test the marketability of their products in the mainstream market.

Lopez said the DTI is rebranding more than 100 OTOP stores into OTOP Philippines Hub or OTOP.PH.

OTOP stores are the souvenir or “pasalubong” centers offering top and unique products from various regions, and are located in airports, terminals, tourist spots, and public markets, among others.

The upgrading of OTOP stores to OTOP.PH will be shouldered by the DTI, Lopez said.

“It’s a first level branding for MSME products. Those MSMEs that were assisted by our OTOP program on product development, we will host their products in the OTOP.PH,” he said in Filipino.

“If they further improve their products, then we can bring them to malls through our Go! Lokal stores,” he added.

The DTI also encourages operators of “pasalubong” centers to coordinate with the agency to convert their outlets to OTOP.PH by reaching the DTI through otop@dti.gov.ph or via 02-751-3307.

The DTI chief noted that the name of their businesses will not be changed but will be branded as part of the government’s OTOP program.