DTI's Go Lokal teams up with Okada Manila to Propel Small Businesses

Tweet

The Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) achieved another milestone for its Go Lokal! Program through its recent partnership with Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI), the operator of the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide 5-star integrated resort, Okada Manila.

Nestled within the Entertainment City in Parañaque, Okada Manila will exclusively feature Go Lokal! products within their premium grooming, spa, and wellness facilities — The Retreat Spa and The Sole Retreat Foot Spa and Reflexology Center. This collaboration will also extend to Okada Manila’s other business units, like rewards redemption at PLAY, offerings at The Gift Boutique, and in-room amenities for hotel patrons.

“Okada Manila has always been a staunch advocate and supporter of supporting Filipino merchants, products, and services since day one. This mutually beneficial partnership with the DTI-BDTP will help us develop more services and offer more Filipino products to our guests. We vow to continue supporting the government in its initiatives in promoting how world-class Filipino products are,” TRLEI President and Chief Operating Officer Byron Yip said.

Director Marievic M. Bonoan of the DTI-BDTP emphasized the importance of the new partnership, “Our partnership with Okada Manila will help our local businesses reach new market segments and bolster their presence in the mainstream market.”

Go Lokal! a free-market access platform for Philippine micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), continues to expand its reach through collaboration with select retail partners since its launch in December 2016. To date, the DTI has partnered with 23 retail partners, opened 112 Go Lokal outlets nationwide, and assisted 494 MSMEs to become regular suppliers of its retail partners. As of June 2023, the program has generated Php 616.27-million in sales.

Stay updated through Go Lokal’’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For further details about the DTI’s Go Lokal! campaign, you may also email: DTI-BDTP Director Marievic M. Bonoan or Go Lokal! Program Manager Maya S. Arcega at bdtp@dti.gov.ph.

DTI holds Bagsakan sa Intramuros for foreign and local tourists

Tweet

As travel and tourism go perfectly with this year’s summer season, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is bringing unique products from across the country closer to tourists through the special Bagsakan sa Intramuros on March 25 to April 2 at the Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila City. In time with the grand launch of the DTI’s latest Go Lokal! Store x Manila Canvas at the walled city of Intramuros, Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction in 2022, the Bagsakan will feature 30 enterprises and their local products from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Organized by the DTI Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) in coordination with the DTI-Regional Operations Group and in partnership with the Intramuros Administration and Manila Canvas, the week-long event will feature the unique Filipino products from CAR, Region 2, 3, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, BARMM, and the NCR for foreign and local tourists to enjoy.

Available for sale are regional delicacies; premium Philippine wines and healthy beverages; Filipino snacks, cookies and pastries; traditional and modern apparel using indigenous textiles; fashion accessories; handicrafts and wooden items; home decors, gifts, and souvenir items; and a full range of personal care and wellness products.

In celebration of the grand opening of the DTI Go Lokal! Store x Manila Canvas on March 27, tourists, buyers and students are invited to join exciting activities free of charge:

· March 30 - Struggles and Success: Let’s Talk Business! with speakers, Aloy Chua, CEO & Founder of Roots Collective; Wado Tan Siman, owner of Wadoughs Cake Studio; and Khaz Raza, Climate Change DRR Expert

· March 31 - Store Tour of Manila Canvas for invited Tour Operators and Tour Guides

· April 1 – Workshop: Pottery Making by Ili Likhaan

· April 2 - Heritage: Forum and Guided Tour with Tranvia by Benjamin Canapi

The Go Lokal! Store is a one-stop-shop for the best locally made products that truly capture the essence of the Philippines. The Go Lokal! Store and the Bagsakan events are great opportunities to support Filipino businesses and artisans while immersing yourself in the rich culture and traditions of the Philippines. Tourists and resellers can directly buy from the manufacturers and place bulk orders for scheduled delivery.

The Bagsakan exhibitors are: Kenro Boutique, Four H Handicraft, Alion Kapit Bisig SEA-K Association, Amanda's Marine Products, Beakris House of Goodies, Gloria's Delicacies, Magpoc's Araro Cookies, Ruthy's Food Products, Terio's Food Products, Tess Enterprise, Willy's Cashew Nuts, Diana Stalder, Harito Food Products, JMU Belt Collection, Let Eat Go, Philia, Switsis Food Products, Sweetstyle Beadworks, Luckygemsbiz and General Merchandise, Cerra Furniture, La Herminia Pina Woven Products, JER Shellcraft. Ma. Delza’s Native Products, Angie's Yakan, Kyla Amazing Soybeans, Marc Daniel's Food Products, Moonlight Handicrafts, Philippine Craft Distillers Inc., Sanja's Enterprises, YZHNY Food Products, and Tingting Handicrafts.

For more updates on upcoming Bagsakan activities, national fairs, and programs for MSMEs, join the DTI-BDTP Community on Viber and follow us on our official social media accounts at: Facebook (@DTI.BDTP); Instagram (@dti.bdtp); Twitter (@dti_bdtp); Tiktok (@dti.bdtp); and YouTube. For inquiries, you may also email BDTP Director Marievic M. Bonoan at bdtp@dti.gov.ph.

First Go Lokal! store in Robinsons Place Manila

Tweet

Quality Filipino products from outstanding micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs from various parts of the country are now in Metro Manila through the Go Lokal! stores.

Robinsons Department Store, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) opens today the first Go Lokal! store in Robinsons Place Manila.

Robinsons Department Store, an affiliate of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., is the first mainstream outlet to launch Go Lokal!, a public-private collaboration between DTI and local retailer partners that aims to showcase modern and indigenous quality products crafted, designed, and created by innovative Philippine micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). 

The Go Lokal! program has been designed to serve as incubation, marketing, and branding platform for the best of Philippine MSMEs products including next generation One Town One Product (OTOP) offerings. This new market access platform via a design-led concept store is set to revolutionize the way hard-to-find and artisanal Filipino products are sold in the local market, and will bring together a specially-curated line-up that ranges from food, apparel, accessories, home décor, gadgets and gift items. 

They can be found in consumer-frequented locations as a mainstream distribution channel for world-class Filipino products while offering value for money for targeted consumers and tourists.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said DTI is more than excited to open its first mainstream Go Lokal! store with Robinsons Department Store as its dynamic partner in this effort of maximizing market access and providing exposure to our MSMEs.

“Go Lokal! is truly a vibrant model for MSME development and inclusive business. We are happy that committed partners like Robinsons have taken on this challenge. We look forward to opening more outlets in their malls and department stores across the country,” Sec. Lopez said.

Robina Gokongwei-Pe, President and COO of Robinsons Department Store, said that the program will benefit MSMEs because it’s a mainstream platform that brings them closer to a more diverse market and creates positive effects to the economy by encouraging entrepreneurship. “This partnership with DTI is Robinsons Department Store’s contribution to nation-building by providing our entrepreneurs an environment where they can be passionate about their businesses and prosper from their efforts, as we create opportunities for MSMEs to grow, succeed and make an impact to the retail industry,” said Gokongwei-Pe.

Johnson Go, General Manager of Robinsons Department Store, said that Go Lokal! is Robinsons Department Store’s way of supporting Filipino entrepreneurs into their initial foray into more mainstream markets by making them more accessible to both local and foreign consumers. “The diverse product line of Go Lokal! brings together the best products that the Philippines has to offer which are world-class locally-made quality products by our MSMEs,” said Go.

The DTI Secretary also said that aside from providing market access for MSME products, the Go Lokal! program is a platform for new entrepreneurs to test the marketability of their products without the fear of losing rental and commercial costs because their experience is free of charge.

 

Portion of Go Lokal! revenues will go to the various corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects of Robinsons Department Store including the government’s drug rehabilitation program.