'Buy Local, Be Vocal' Region 12 trade fair goes to BGC

MANILA – Authorities are targeting P30 million in sales for this year’s Treasures of Region 12: Buy Local, Be Vocal trade fair, set from Thursday to Sunday this week at Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City. 

In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Tuesday, Eddie De Asis, DTI Sultan Kudarat officer-in-charge provincial director, said around 70 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will join this year’s event, the third time it will be held in Metro Manila. 

This number, he said, is higher than last year's 60 exhibitors.  Among the products to be showcased are coffee and chocolates from Sultan Kudarat, T’nalak products from South Cotabato and agricultural products from other areas in the region.

The MSMEs are from the four provinces and cities of Soccsksargen, namely Koronadal City, General Santos City, Tacurong City, Kidapawan City, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. 

De Asis said the exhibitors are graduates of the DTI’s Kapatid Mentor ME program, a mentoring program aimed to help MSME owners elevate their operational and management skills and access more markets. 

“Libre po ang pagpasok sa Treasures of Region 12, basta bumili lang po kayo (Entrance is free, just buy our offerings),” he said.