TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov.16(PIA)—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Eastern Visayas formally launched recently the Bahandi Pasalubong & Product Display Center at DZR Airport, this city.
The launching of the project was spearheaded by DTI regional director Cynthia Nierras with support from Ma. Teresa Robielos, Development Assistance Specialist of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines which is a partner agency of the project.
In a brief interview with Director Nierras, she said the establishment of the center will serve as a good venue for marketing of the products sold by the small and medium entrepreneurs in the region particularly the members of the Bahandi Producers Association (BPA).
“Having an outlet at the Pasalubong Center would mean a lot of opportunities to the bahandi producers for they would surely create a regular market in the city thereby generating income for the small and medium enterprises,” Nierras said.
On the part of the USAID, Robielos said this is a realization of the dream of their livelihood team to help the small and medium enterprises of eastern visayas particularly Leyte and Samar.
The Bahandi Pasalubong Center showcases native foods and other homemade products in region 8 particularly moron, binagol, queseo, pastillas, cassava cake, bags, mat or “banig” among others.
Bahandi producers in the region stopped its operation at the airport when its business outlet was swept by the storm surge due to super typhoon Yolanda that hit Tacloban and others areas two years ago.(ajc/PIA-8)
