KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Region 12 Cotabato Satellite Office (CSO) has recently conducted an Assessment, Consultation and Triage (ACT) Session under its One Town, One Product Next Generation (OTOP Next Gen) program that was participated by twenty seven (27) micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in their area of jurisdiction held at Cotabato City and Midsayap, North Cotabato, respectively.

The ACT session, the first phase of the OTOP Next Gen, is a two-day event organized by the said satellite office where selected MSMEs from Cotabato City and the First District of Cotabato Province have gathered for their products to be assessed by food quality experts, branding consultant, and designers to eventually form part as DTI-Region 12’s improved/developed pasalubong products.

OTOP Philippines is a priority stimulus program for MSMEs as the government’s customized intervention to drive inclusive local economic growth.

The program has two major components: the supply side and the demand side. The OTOP Next Gen as the supply side of the program offers a package of assistance to capacitate MSMEs with the goal of leveling up their products in the areas of design, quality, and volume, among others.

After capacitating the MSMEs comes the market side of the program, which is the OTOP Philippines Hub who will provide physical online channels and market access platforms to OTOP products.

Products of participating MSMEs are a showcase of the right natural bounty of the area ranging from roasted coffee and peanuts, fruit jams, marinated and processed fish products, and many more. The conduct of Cotabato Satellite Office’s ACT Session for Food MSMEs last 7-9 October 2020 marks the last leg of DTI-Region 12’s ACT session for Food MSMEs. It was noted that this ACT goes beyond the usual, as they were able to link as well packaging suppliers to the participating MSMEs. ♦

Date of Release: 16 October 2020