A gallery of Antique’s local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) products opened at the Balangay-designed office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) as part of the Environment Month celebration on June 20 to 23.

PENRO officer Andres Untal said they have provided a space in the lobby of the PENRO building so the MSMEs would be able to display and sell their products.

Untal led the ribbon cutting for the opening of the gallery, together with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) information officer Lynna Joy Cardinal and Kapatid Mentor Me, Inc. (KAMI) president Aben Ortega.

“We are highlighting the biodiversity friendly enterprises at the gallery,” he said during a press conference on Monday.

Untal said since the PENRO’s approach in the development of the ecosystem is from ridge to reef, they are thus supporting the biodiversity-friendly enterprises that use raw materials found in the upland to the lowland areas to economically sustain them.

He further said that among the local products being displayed at the gallery are engineered bamboo cups and kitchen utensils that are being planted in the upland areas.

Cardinal said they are elated for the opportunity given by the PENRO to the KAMI, an organization composed of graduates of the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) program, for them to display and sell their products.

“We are glad for the partnership that the PENRO has provided to KAMI to be able to display for sale their environment-friendly products,” she said.

She added the DTI has been implementing the KMME program to further enhance the entrepreneurship knowledge and skills of MSMEs through the modular classes provided to them.

Ortega said there are about 20 MSMEs that are now exhibiting their products at the gallery.

“The more market channels we have, the more sales we can generate for our local products,” he said. (PNA)