In alignment with the Women’s Month celebration in the Philippines this March, the Department of Trade and Industry Laguna Provincial Office (DTI Laguna) reached out to women entrepreneurs to show support to its homegrown artisans as it took part in the national celebration of highlighting the empowerment of women as active contributors to and claimholders of development.
In partnership with SM Mall of Asia, DTI Laguna conducted another run of Kalakal Laguna featuring its women entrepreneurs on 21 – 27 March 2022. This week-long trade show, with the theme “Kababaihan sa Kalakal at Kaunlaran”, aimed to assist the food and creative industry sectors of Laguna, particularly those engaged in processed fruits and nuts, wearables and home styles, handcrafted works, and fashion designs, in promoting their products and expanding their market.
A ceremonial opening happened on 22 March 2022, where several personalities and DTI Key Officials, namely, DTI4A Regional Director Marilou Toledo, DTI-NCR Regional Director Marcelina Alcantara, the commissioners of the Philippine Commission on Women led by Chairperson Sandra Montano, our partners from the SM Mall of Asia headed by Ms. Millie Dizon, and Philippine Franchise Association Chairman and Director for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) / Homegrown Franchises (Nonfood) Sherill Quintana were gathered.
The foregoing guests showed their full support and appreciation to the 12 Laguna women entrepreneurs who were part of this event. Messages of support and inspirational messages were delivered by the abovementioned personalities. Quintana, one of Laguna’s pride as an entrepreneur and mentor, shared her personal experiences to inspire the participating women entrepreneurs to continue thriving and growing amidst the challenge of the pandemic. Afterwards, the guests proceeded to a walkthrough.
The whole event ended on March 27, 2022, generating a total of PHP278,039 sales. In-between dates of onsite visits, DTI Laguna including Negosyo Center (NC) Business Counsellors (BC) monitored exhibitors and promoted the event continuously in social media platforms. This initiative of DTI Laguna, tagged as Kalakal Laguna, is in line with DTI’s thrust to actively and continuously look for ways to help its micro, small, and medium enterprises thrive and flourish despite the pandemic. Kababaihan sa Kalakal at Kaunlaran became an avenue to promote Laguna products and expand market reach for Laguna MSMEs. The event also facilitated market matching and business-to-business meetings where Laguna artists and potential market/partner engaged in an ideation session. ♦
Date of Release: 6 April 2022