Cagayan Valley 17th Padday na Lima gains P8.6-M sales

By Leander C. Domingo

TUGUEGARAO CITY -- More than P8.6 million was generated during Cagayan Valley's 17th Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair, both on-site and online, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 2.
    DTI Region 2 Director Leah Pulido reported that with the tireless and collaborative efforts of the technical and administrative working groups of their regional office, partners and sponsors, the Cagayan Valley's trade fair has concluded with a whopping P8,669,597.12 both for booked, cash and under negotiation sales.
    With the tireless and collaborative efforts of the technical and administrative working groups of the Department of Trade and Industry in Region 2 under the leadership of Regional Director Leah Pulido Ocampo, partners and sponsors, Cagayan Valley’s 17th Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair concludes with over P8.6 million pesos in total sales.
    Cagayan Valley region comprises the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and the island province of Batanes.
    Pulido said the total sales was generated by 100 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), physically at the Festival Mall Alabang and digitally through the website paddaynalima.com from Aug. 7 to 13, 2023.
    She said this is expected to increase with additional sales still under negotiation in the business-to-business matching activity of the Special Buyer's Program (SBP).
    "The bayanihan spirit remains the main ingredient in achieving this feat as the fair comes back to its original home, the first post-pandemic big event in the metropolis, and after a weeklong load of effort and hard work from both MSMEs and the organization," Pulido said.
    She said these efforts are directed towards the vision of positioning the region as a major supplier of minimally processed goods for institutional use.
    According to Manilyn Castañeda Ponce, DTI Region 2 information officer, the weeklong event featured the SBP, provincial showcases, tourism and investment opportunities, new and improved food and nonfood products and preaprocessed institutionally packed goods from the region.
    "[All of these] have undergone development through the different programs of DTI, a long list of special events, and a media experience tour," Ponce said.
    Meanwhile, institutional buyers, sponsors and partners, consumers, media partners, local government units, and MSME collaborators have expressed thanks and lauded the DTI for the specially curated features of the show.
    The trade fair was described by them as a spectacular show of flavors and colors, professional and one-of-a-kind.