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5-8-2009
Bicol Regional OTOP Convergence set
LEGAZPI CITY, May 7 —The First Bicol One town One Product (OTOP) Convergence will be held on May 14 at the Concourse Convention Center, Legazpi City. The theme of the Regional OTOP Convergence is "OTOP ko, Orgullo ko". ...
 The One Town One Product (OTOP) Program in Bicol Region has provided assistance to entrepreneurs in critical aspects of business namely; marketing, product development, production and capability building. Since 2006, when OTOP started, until the end of year 2008 , 507 trainings on skills and managerial development were given to 11,117 beneficiaries most of whom are skilled workers and the rest are entrepreneurs. Part of these trainings were the development of competitive product designs and prototypes which totaled to 436 and 268 respectively. Companies that benefited were mainstreamed to different market levels starting from local, national and international trade fairs. This resulted to 7,522 jobs generated, $9.16M USD export sales , 238M PHP domestic sales, and 200M PHP infused investments. Likewise, there were 436 MSMEs developed.
The experiences of our OTOP entrepreneurs are worth telling. After a series of training and marketing consultations, 7 companies made it to Hongkong Food Expo last August 2008. It was breakthrough for our pili producers to participate in this international fair where the world’s finest food manufacturers converge. Sales prospects are very promising judging from the post fair transactions. There is still a lot to be done for OTOP as a national program to move local economy and sustain the same. OTOP is micro-entrepreneurship, hence its benefits should cascade down to the grassroots. For this, our convergence efforts with our partners and stakeholders must be sustained. 
Pilinut (Canarium ovatum) is a tree indigenous to the Bicol Region. Its roots, trunk, leaves, sap
and fruit has numerous industrial, commercial and medicinal uses. Pilinut kernel is taken from the
nut and processed into various pilinut candies and confectioneries.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The Bicol Region is a peninsula at the southeastern end of Luzon, the islands of Catanduanes
and Masbate and several small outlying islands. The region has a total land area of 17,632.5
sq. kms. and includes six provinces: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate
and Sorsogon. These provinces comprise “Bicolandia”. The region has three cities: lriga. Legaspi
and Naga. Several volcanoes are found in the region: Mt. Labo (942 meters), Mt. Malinao (1,657 meters), Mt.
Isarog (1,976 meters), Mt. Bulusan (1,559 meters) and Mt. Mayon (2,421 meters). The highest, Mt. Mayon is
reputed to have the world’s most perfect natural cone.
Magayon Festival on the Go!
Starting April, a month celebration of “Magayon” Festival in the province of Albay showcases OTOPs
best products in the province. “Magayon” in Bicol vernacular means beautiful. For one month the most
and the best in the province of Albay are on parade. From products, sports, artists’ renderings such
as paintings, sculptures and beauty pageant where the “Binibing Pilipinas International 2009, Melody
Gersbach first participated and was crowned as “Miss Magayon”.
First Bicol Regional OTOP Convergence Slated
The First Bicol Regional OTOP Convergence will
be held at Concourse Convention Center in Legazpi City on May 14, 2009. The activity with the
theme “OTOP Ko Orgullo Ko” aims at sharing the best practices, gathering insights and reviewing the
milestones.
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