The city government opened on Monday a week-long trade fair to promote various products of homegrown micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said the activity, which will run until July 19 at the Robinsons mall atrium here, is mainly aimed to encourage consumers to patronize local produce and help MSMEs cope with the continuing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Dubbed “Locally Sourced at Robinsons Malls: A Gardening and Local Produce Fair,” he said they partnered with the Robinsons Malls to gather and showcase quality products from parts of the city.

The initiative is supported by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Region 12, through the flagship “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” direct marketing program.

“With this bazaar, it will be easier for entrepreneurs to sell their products, and consumers to find what they need,” Rivera said in a statement.

Among the displayed products are fresh vegetables and fruits, plants, seeds, dairy products, organic food, and gardening tools.

The participating producers include Longtaw Empanada, Chicharon ni Totep, Alice Best, Sweet Charmelan, Delima Mushroom Producers, Barangay Olympog Farmers Association, City Food Terminal Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Rosechie Food Products, Daiso Japan, JC Tamayo Farm, United Engineering Workers, and Rural Improvement Club Federation.

The mayor lauded the Robinsons Mall and DA-12 for supporting the activity and helping local producers maintain their productivity and generate income even as the situation remains volatile due to the Covid-19 situation.

He said the local government will explore the replication of the activity in the coming weeks in other areas in the city.

“I hope that we can do more of this so we can continue to plan and address our food security in our city. The local government will always support this kind of endeavor,” he added. (PNA)