Glan opens trade fair for centennial anniversary

By Beverly C. Paoyon

GLAN, Sarangani (October 1, 2014) - A trade fair was launched in Glan on Tuesday (September 30) to strengthen direct partnership between consumers and the town’s local producers.

Dubbed as Glan Centennial Trade Fair 2014, this event would not only set promotion of the town’s agri-products, tourism and related services but also intends to impact at improving lives of small entrepreneurs which comprise the country’s economic backbone.

Sarangani Department of Trade and Industry provincial director Engr. Nenita Barroso accounted for 96.9 percent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which cover 70 percent of the labor force in the Philippines.

Glan is the leading copra producer in the region but Barroso lamented this could not sustain alongside the increasing poverty population of the town. Hence, she said, “economic development catalysts must initiate projects and activities to balance the rising economy of the town.”

With the trade fair placed in a higher scale of product promotions and market matching, she said it would help Glan in positioning itself from “publishing what has been accomplished and at the same time strategize for the future - always anticipating trends and leading the way to the solutions of tomorrow.”

Displays of products are found in the Tabo sa Mercado Barangay Showcase and in the SMEs Pasalubong Bazaar until the town’s centennial anniversary on October 8.

Currently, around 28 exhibitors have already registered in the pasalubong bazaar which came from as far as Marikina, Naga Cebu, Davao, South Cotabato, General Santos City and Sarangani Province.

The booths in the Tabo sa Mercado exhibit tourism destinations and the best of the existing and potentials products of the 31 barangays that comprise Glan.

For his part, Glan municipal tourism chairman Dr. Tranquilino Ruiz hoped that aside from the coco-based products, Glan would likewise be seen potential for other agri products like cut flowers, fruits and coffee especially in the cold and mountainous areas of the town. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)