First business week rakes over P.5M in Tacurong City

COTABATO CITY, July 30 (PNA) – The 1st Tacurong City Business Week celebration with entrepreneurs actively participating has raked P511,898 in sales, trade and industry officials said.

Generating sales were 33 entrepreneurs from Sultan Kudarat who participated in the Producers’ Fair held from July 19-23, Young Entrepreneurs’ Fair, Diskwento Caravan and enterprises that were destinations of Industrial Tour or I Tour SK, according to Nelly Dillera, Sultan Kudarat trade and industry provincial director.

These were side events of the Business Week celebration.

She said top grosser were craft products made of indigenous materials.

"Event organizers even booked orders for hundreds of convention envelopes for upcoming events in the region," she said.

Other top sellers include organic fertilizers and cleansers, muscovado and coffee products.

DTI-12 Regional Director Ibrahim Guiamadel proclaimed Double Day Craft was the top seller for the Producers’ Fair while Notre Dame of Tacurong College for the Young Entrepreneurs.

Proclaimed winner for Best Dressed Booth among the students was VMC City College of Tacurong city.

Further, business matching activities also made possible the regular distribution of enterprising persons in local establishments, Dillera said.

Meanwhile, close to P1 million investments commitment with marketing agreement was signed between the growers of moringa (malunggay).

She said investments is even higher if the growing of napier grass for biodiesel will be realized.

The signing and commitment was held during the Business Forum and visits made to Sen. Ninoy Aquino and Bagumbayan in Sultan Kudarat which were also conducted during the Week.

Secura Philippines represented by CEO Danilo Manayaga entered agreement with the local growers.

A team from Secura is scheduled to visit the province within two months to study the possibility of setting up a bio-diesel semi-processing plant and make a survey of raw material sources.

Raw materials committed by local growers include sugarcane tops, oil palm waste materials and other agricultural wastes.

Simultaneous with the business week was a jobs fair.

Hundreds of job seekers trooped to the NDTC gymnasium to offer their services to 15 recruiting companies for local and foreign placement.

As of press time, no figure was released yet as to how many were actually hired.

Participating academic institutions meanwhile, showcased their skills in bartending, barista and food and beverage servicing like table setting and skirting.

The Business Lectures and showing of Entrepinoy Videos also drew crowds to the venue.

Closing Ceremonies Guest Speaker Mr. Danilo Ong, owner of chain of Fitmart Malls, inspired the audience of its humble beginnings and its stature now.

In the message of SK Governor Datu Teng Mangudadatu, he challenged the entrepreneurs to be good in what they are doing and help in sustaining the economic development of the province.

He also vowed to host a provincial-wide business week during the Kalimudan Festival in November.

The 1st Tacurong City Business Week, with theme “Sustaining Unlimited Livelihood Opportunities by Nestling the Growth” of MSMES was organized by the Provincial MSMED Council composed of the DTI as the Secretariat and as members – DOST, DOLE, DILG, DOT, TESDA, City Government of Tacurong and Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat. (PNA)
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