𝗣𝗚𝗟𝗨 𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 “𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗨-𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗢”

By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-LUPTO | Photos By: GPC-LUPTO | Date: July 27, 2021

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With the aim to promote local culture and traditions, tourism and employment and environmental conservation, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) forged partnership with SMART Communications, Inc. for the Provincial Online Weekend Market dubbed as “Saluad La Union para Serbisio, Agri-turismo, Lako ken Oportunidad” (SaLU-SALO) through signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 27, 2021 via video conferencing.

The MOU was signed by Provincial Governor Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III and SMART Customer Development Manager Victor Michael G. Mendoza. Officer-in-Charge of the La Union Provincial Tourism Office (LUPTO) Arthur S. Cortez, Jr. and SMART AVP and Head for Regional Customer Consumer Development Leonides G. Nivado served as witnesses to the signing.

Gov. Pacoy assured that the Provincial Online Weekend Market Project will be a great success with strong support from both parties along with Local Government Units and the rest of the tourism stakeholders in the province.

"This is the start of a greater collaboration as we ensure that our economy comes back stronger to keep on our mission as the catalysts for sustainable and inclusive development that improves the quality of life of our people and to build a Stronger La Union, a province worth living in," Gov. Pacoy said.

For SMART, Region 1 Area Development Head Rhona Eli Medina congratulated PGLU for coming up with an online market initiative. She further said that SMART is committed to providing community support and digital innovations to help the Province of La Union through these difficult times.

SaLU-SALO is an entrepreneurial and lifestyle virtual program that covers themed episodes related to local agriculture, tourism, business, and environment in the five Agri-Tourism circuits. It is a joint project of the PGLU’s Economic Dynamism and Competitiveness Sector composed of the LUPTO, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO), Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet), Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), Public Employment Service Unit (PESU), and Local Economic Enterprise and Investment Promotions Unit (LEEIPU).

The segments of the program include Local Tourism and Cultural Heritage Promotions to be led by LUPTO, Cooking Demonstration and PINAKA-#AgreeSaAgri by OPAg, Community PanTREE by PG-ENRO, Free Anti-Rabies Vaccination by OPVet, Job Assistance by PESU, and MSME Feature by LEEIPU.

SaLU-SALO will be aired live every last Saturday of the month this semester at the Love La Union official Facebook Page.