TABUK CITY, Kalinga – With the easing of quarantine status all over the country, DTI-Kalinga Provincial Director Renie Ramos and Mayor Darwin C. Estrañero are hopeful that the opening of the Kalinga Treasure Fair 2022 will signal the recovery of the local economy led by local producers and manufacturers.
The trade fair which was officially launched in celebration of the 27th Kalinga Founding Anniversary on February 14 was organized by the Chamber of Kalinga Producers Inc. (CKAPI) and DTI-Kalinga and features locally made products that include food products, furniture, ornamental plants, clothing and personal articles made from traditional Kalinga weave. The trade fair is located along the provincial road in Bulanao across St. William’s Cathedral and will run until February 27, 2022.
Director Ramos said that the business activity in the city is recovering from the slump brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, the trade fair in December last year generated 4.3M in sales not including sales from outside the province, adding that DTI-Kalinga has also setup a booth in Xentro mall in Roxas City, Isabela to introduce Kalinga products to adjacent provinces.
“We are very very happy ta makita tayu metten nga agsubsubli (business activity) so napintas daytuy tapnu makatulong kadagitoy MSMEs tayu idtoy probinsya, at the same time economy ket agrugi nga agdevelop manen tapnu maikkan dagiti kailyan tayu ti pagtrabahuan da,” he said.
Mayor Darwin C. Estrañero in his message said that CKAPI’s initiative to showcase local products and services contributes immensely to the city’s goal of generating employment for Tabukeños saying that “the only way to help the Tabukeños when it comes to employment is support local businesses and attract business to come and invest here.”
“This is very important ta idtoy tayu nga makita dagiti partners tayu ti industry, idtoy tayu nga makita dagiti concerns nu kasanu tayu nga matulungan dakayo nga business nga miembro ti CKAPI ken dagiti dadduma nga businesses nga agrugi idtoy Tabuk City,” he said.
To make the trade fair convenient for both sellers and patrons, and to entice more customers, the Mayor pledged to donate a portable toilet requested by the CKAPI to be used by the organizations for their activities. By Tabuk City PIO
