Senator Mark Villar on Thursday urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to support more the shoe industry in Marikina City.

He also asked DTI to furnish him with the list of products of every local government unit (LGU) under the One Town One Product (OTOP) program.

Villar requested DTI Undersecretary Blesina Lantayona, during the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship hearing, to provide technical experts to make shoe products to be at par in the international shoe market.

“We have good local manufacturers in Marikina, we must support them in order to reach a higher level and compete in the international market,” Villar said.

Villar suggested for the DTI to do more research and training for the stakeholders to improve their products.

Lantayona assured Villar that DTI is doing its best to support the industry as they have just inaugurated an incubator facility in Marikina, and provided equipment and new technology to shoe makers. (PNA)