BAGUIO CITY – City officials recently authorized the local chief executive representing the city government to enter into a tripartite memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Trade and Industry–Cordillera Administrative Region (DTI-CAR) and the Liga ng mga Barangay–Baguio City chapter for the establishment of the Cordillera Crafts and Productivity Center, formerly the trade and display center.
Under Resolution No. 709, series of 2024, local legislators stated that to establish and formalize the roles, responsibilities and commitments of each party, it is imperative to enter into a tripartite agreement among the parties to serve as a definite framework to delineate the respective functions of the DTI-CAR, the local government and the Liga ng mga Barangay ensuring efficient coordination, accountability and the effective implementation of initiatives related to the operation and management of the said Cordillera Crafts and Productivity Center–One Town One Product (CCPC-OTP) hub.
In the 1990s, the DTI, in collaboration with the private sector, launched the trade and display center program to support sectoral industry organizations by establishing centers in key strategic locations across the country.
In 1995, through the initiative of former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani, the local government was identified as one of the strategic locations for the establishment of a trade and display center to promote and support locally made products, particularly those produced by barangay-based small enterprises.
To facilitate the establishment of the trade and display center, the DTI allocated PhP2 million from the congressional initiative fund of former Senator Shahani which provided additional resources for the construction of the building located at DPS Compound barangay, now known as the Cordillera Crops and Productivity Center hub.
Subsequently, the local government designated its property within DPS Compound barangay and authorized its use for the establishment of the trade and display center, reaffirming its commitment to supporting local industries.
The DTI-CAR, the local government and the Liga ng mga Barangay–Baguio City chapter have collectively agreed that the organization along with its members and constituents shall be the primary beneficiary and user of the center to promote and sustain barangay-based industries in the city.
The council claimed that the trade and display center has since been rebranded as the Cordillera Crops and Productivity Center–One Town One Product hub, reflecting its expanded role in fostering local productivity and showcasing barangay-based livelihood products.
The council required that the tripartite MOA must be submitted to the local legislative body for confirmation once signed by the concerned parties. By Dexter A. See
