DTI to launch OTOP Awards system

Tuguegarao City (3 August) — The awarding of the outstanding One Town, One Product (OTOP) projects and stakeholders were contributed to the program’s success will highlight the 2nd Regional OTOP Congress to be held here on September 23-30, 2009.

The Awards will give honor to deserving micro-small and medium OTOP entrepreneurs and development partners such as the local government units (LGUs), government institutions, private sector organizations and associations for their extraordinary efforts that placed the OTOP Philippines Program in the forefront of economic development.

Atty. Ma. Esperanza C. Banares, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry, said the awards will be categorized into: Best OTOP Implementers, Outstanding OTOP Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), and the Most Supportive Partner Organization.

The Best OTOP Implementer will be awarded to LGUs which have shown enthusiasm in implementing OTOP, committed resources and have taken concrete actions towards the attainment of the program’s objective.

The Outstanding OTOP SME will be awarded to micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which have cooperated with the LGUs and partner-agencies, invested resources in the program, thus, contributing to the local economy in terms of employment and trade and to the local economy.

The Most Supportive Partner Organization will also be awarded to organizations and agencies for providing crucial assistance in terms of resources, program support, linkages, and others, thus, influencing positively the progress of the program.

Nida Tumaliuan, division chief of the regional office said the awards will further motivate the stakeholders to strive and perform better.

“We hope to institutionalize these awards system as a mechanism to further boost the commitment of our stakeholders,” she said.

There will be one awardee per category at the provincial, regional and national levels.

Cash prizes as program funds will be awarded to the national and island winners while the regional and provincial winners will be given gift checks. (Zet/PIA 2)