Gov. Romualdo declares Tourism as Camiguin's OTOP

Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo

Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo recently signed Executive Order No. 22, declaring the Tourism industry, including all its allied support products and services as the Provincial One-Town, One-Product (OTOP) of Camiguin.

The scope and coverage of this Executive Order shall apply to any person or entity engaged in the business of sale or distribution of any consumer products or services, particularly for food, accommodation, transportation and other allied support products and services which

local or foreign tourists may wish to avail of.

This new development is a breakthrough for Camiguin's provincial economy that could benefit not only the direct Tourism service providers, but also all the areas and sectors supportive to Camiguin's Tourism industry in terms of assistance provided by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) OTOP credit Facility.

Earlier, Gov. Romualdo announced this plan to push Tourism as the provincial One-Town, One-Product (OTOP) during the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Forum conducted last July by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Camiguin Provincial Office, in cooperation with the Camiguin Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (CSMEDC), to highlight the observance of the MSME Week.

OTOP-Philippines is a priority program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo designed to promote entrepreneurship and create job opportunities.

Specifically it supports micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to manufacture, offer and market distinctive products and services, through the use of indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents.

Under this program, Local Government Units (LGUs) take the lead in identifying, developing, and promoting a specific product or service which has competitive advantage.

Over-all, OTOP offers a comprehensive package through a convergence of services from LGUs, national government agencies, and the private sector.

DBP OTOP Credit Facility is a nationwide funding allocation of P2.0 billion to implement the DBP-DTI Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with program objectives to support the poverty alleviation efforts of the national government in terms of job and income generation, to sustain DBP's developmental mandate by encouraging entrepreneurship in the countryside, and to reaffirm the bank's commitment to be catalyst for countryside development by empowering the country's MSMEs through the provision of easy access to credit and technical assistance. (Zita Maestrado-Abellare, DTI-Camiguin/PIA- Camiguin-Net)

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