‘Men-ilako Taku’ MP fair opens for local products

By Delya Bab-ating

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- This year, as part of the activities for the 35th Cordillera month celebration  themed,  “One Autonomous Cordillera: Ensuring Social Development and Inclusive Growth in the New Normal, “Men-ilako tako” fair for local products opened here for the first time at the provincial plaza.
    The “Let’s sell” agro-trade fair was opened July 2 to display local products from  municipalities of the province.
    There are a total of 17 exhibitors, mostly farmers and micro-small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
    “Naging malaking opurtunidad sa akin ang market trade na ito kasi bukod sa nakakabenta sa matataong lugar, naipapaliwanag ko mismo sa mga bumibili kung paano ko ginagawa yung peanut butter at iba pang benta ko. Dahil din dito nakakahanap din ako ng ibang groceries at tindahan na pwedeng magretail ng paninda ko,” said Jovelyn Tuda.
    It was her second time joining an exhibit as she also joined during the 32nd Mountain Province Craft Exposition in December 2021 in the same venue.
    The main objective of the Men-ilako tako Market Fair is to promote local products and help farmers and MSMEs affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
    There are typically numerous opportunities for advertising and support in addition to having a position in the fair, increasing their market linkage, while providing consumers access to quality products, organizers said.
The fair has diversified audience.

 “Market fairs are one great way of showcasing the province’s products and that our products speak of the fact that Mountain Province is highly dependent on agriculture,” said Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan.

Participants market vegetables, home processed foods and snacks, wines and weaved products.

These different products speak of the rich culture of different municipalities which was praised by the DTI for the farmers’ great innovation in making and marketing their products.

The opening of the agro-trade fair was headed by the DTI-Cordillera regional director Juliet Lucas and Gov. Lacwasan which will be open until July 30.