Photo courtesy of DTI-CamSur
From Bicolano delicacies to coconut-based innovations, products from Camarines Sur are taking the spotlight in Metro Manila as local entrepreneurs seek to introduce their creations to a wider market.
The Department of Trade and Industry Camarines Sur brought the four-day “Feria de Camarines” to Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, where the showcase runs until Sunday.
DTI Camarines Sur Director Jay Percival Ablan said it was the first time the provincial fair was staged at a major shopping destination, giving participating businesses greater exposure to consumers and prospective buyers.
Visitors can find food products, fashion pieces, handicrafts, home décor, wellness items and artworks produced by micro, small and medium enterprises from the province.
Camarines Sur’s coconut industry also has a prominent place at the fair through “La Vida Coco,” which features food, beverages, personal care products, home essentials and other goods developed from coconut.
Ablan said local businesses had moved beyond traditional coconut products such as copra and oil, with the crop now finding its way into accessories, clothing and other innovative merchandise.
Some exhibitors also highlighted how their businesses support producers back home. Cacao entrepreneur Fiorella Raphaelle Ouradnik said locally sourced ingredients helped provide opportunities for cacao farmers, while DTI programs assisted entrepreneurs in improving their products and expanding their markets.
Edible oil producer Ramoncito Tan said the Manila showcase offered provincial businesses an opportunity to gain recognition beyond Camarines Sur. DTI said increased patronage of their products could translate into stronger MSMEs and additional economic activity in local communities.