๐๐ฎ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ด๐๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ป๐น๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐น๐น ๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐
By: Rhea Matilde A. Ballesteros, GPC โ SP | Photos By: Mark Andrew G. Sanchez, SP | Date: December 9, 2021
The 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan presented a Resolution of Gratitude, authored by Board Member Nancy Corazon M. Bacurnay to the management of CSI Mall for annually hosting and supporting the various travel and trade fairs and other activities of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU). The Resolution was received by its CSI President Ms. Belen Fernandez during the opening ceremony of the 20th La Unionโs Fairest on December 9, 2021 at the CSI Mall, City of San Fernando, La Union.
La Union Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry chaired by Board Member Jonathan Justo A. Orros together with Board Members Nancy Corazon M. Bacurnay, Jennifer C. Mosuela โ Fernandez, Gerard G. Ostrea and Abraham P. Rimando were present in the activity organized by the Department of Trade and Industry-La Union and Local Economic Enterprise & Investment Promotions Unit with the theme โAgkaykaysa Toward MSME Recovery.โ
Now on its 20th year, the La Unionโs Fairest is an annual joint project of the PGLU, DTI โ La Union and other stakeholders to assist the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of La Union to showcase and promote the creative flair of the Ilocano crafters in an array of unique holiday decors, artistically handcrafted clothes, blankets, gifts, toys and housewares and intricately designed reproductions of wooden furnitures made by them and other products include locally processed foods and holiday plants/flowers.
Said trade fair will now be one of the provinceโs major annual trade and investment event every year as it is being institutionalized under Provincial Ordinance No. 309-2021, authored by Board Member Orros as one of the recovery support and assistance to strengthen local MSMEs in elevating the quality of La Union products and services and attain competitive advantage at par with national and global standards.
After their tour around the 38 participating booths, a focus group discussion with the MSME exhibitors was conducted wherein they raised some issues affecting them such as discounts on business taxes, capital assistance or stimulus package for them to cope with the ill-effects of the pandemic, necessary assistance for the FDA Registration, free or subsidized booth rental, establishment of one-stop-shop or MSME Center, extensive information and education campaign of government programs relative to MSMEs, continuing trainings and seminars on product development and marketing, and establishment of online or digital platform wherein they can showcase and sell their products.
In response, Board Member Orros committed that all their concerns will be studied by his committee and endorsed to the concerned offices and will be followed-up until actions will be taken accordingly.
