Eighty barangays across the city gathered at Aurora Park for a three-day trade expo running from September 18 to 20, aimed at displaying signature local goods, connecting with new buyers, and boosting micro-enterprises.
Timed with Tourism Month, the city administration and the Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB) are spearheading the “One Barangay, One Product” (OBOP) scheme.
The initiative urges every village to cultivate and market items rooted in its distinct resources, cultural identity, and local talent to drive economic growth from the ground up.
“Every product displayed here carries a story. It represents the creativity of our local entrepreneurs, handiwork of our farmers and producers, skills of our artisans, and the determination of our barangays to create opportunities for their people,” Roque Benjamin Ablan, president of the city’s LNB, said during the opening of the three-day fair on Friday.
Ablan noted that each community possesses distinct offerings, and the OBOP program serves as a launchpad to showcase sustainable development efforts to a broader audience.
The trade fair features bamboo novelties and utility items, water hyacinth handicrafts like handwoven bags and hats, moringa-based goods such as malunggay tea and snacks, cassava chips, sugarcane vinegar, chili garlic oil, bagoong, and fresh produce.
Multiple national offices are backing the campaign, including the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
“This is a very laudable initiative. Fairs like this are very helpful to our local enterprises to expand their market,” provincial trade office director Amelia Galvez said in an interview during the opening.
By focusing on a single flagship item, communities can refine their production, branding, and marketing strategies, turning small home-based setups and farm harvests into sustainable commercial ventures.