A few days to go before Christmas, and the malls are starting to bustle with families, including seniors and toddlers now welcome to share in the holiday fun.
Taking advantage of the more optimistic economic prospects for the most important shopping season, the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) has ramped up its promotional activities for micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
With support from the DTI-Regional Operations Group, about forty MSMEs are showcasing their wares at the last major selling event to close off the year. The Christmas Grand Fest at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, runs from December 15-19, 2021, and serves as the finale for the Bagsakan special project of DTI-BDTP.
Filipino MSMEs have been among the hardest- hit over the past two years, and they struggled to sustain their business operations to support their families, employees, and communities.
With the prospect of a brighter Christmas, the DTI is urging everyone to have a more meaningful "Paskong Maka-Pilipino," by patronizing locally-made products for their holiday feasts and for gift-giving.
Further, all the participating MSMEs have been carefully curated to ensure that they offer quality products that meet both local ang international standards.
At the Christmas Grand Fest event, there is a special Halal Corner to promote the domestic halal industry, with an eye to establishing a presence in the huge international halal markets.
There will also be coffee exhibitors at the KAPEtirya, spotlighting the resurgence of Philippine coffee among enthusiasts here and abroad.
Other product offerings include processed food and beverages, fresh produce and organic products, dried seafood, cooked food, condiments, and other cooking ingredients. There are also garments, footwear, fashion accessories, home decor, and other gift items.
For those who prefer to keep safe and avoid the holiday rush, the DTI has several e-commerce platforms, as follows:
• NTF (National Trade Fair) Digital Mall — https://ntfdigimall.linker.store
• NACF (National Arts & Crafts Fair) Artisanal Shop — https://nacf.linker.store
• NFF (National Food Fair)Digital Mall — https://nff.linker.store
• Go Lokal Digital Mall - https://golokal.linker. store
• LazMall Go Lokal @ LazMall — https:// www.lazada.com.ph/shop/go-lokal
• Go Lokal @ Shopee Mall — https://shopee. ph/golokalphilippines
• Shopinas — https:// shopinas.com/go- lokal
For more information about the DTI-BDTP and its projects for MSMEs, please follow its social media accounts on Facebook (DTI.BDTP), Instagram (dti.bdtp), and Twitter (@DTI_BDTP). You may also email Director Marievic M. Bonoan at bdtp@dti.gov.ph.
