Pasalubong entrepreneurs, manufacturers, producers and infrastructures are said to be the tourism frontliners as they greet visitors upon entering and before leaving a place.
This is according to City Permits and Licensing Officer Allan Abayao during the Baguio Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Expo 2023 on Sept. 25 at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center.
“MSMEs are the face of tourism in any locality, the quality of products speaks of our entrepreneurial competency,” Abayao said during the information, education campaign component of the event.
To attain this, he said the theme of the event coined by the Department of Trade and Industry Baguio-Benguet in partnership with the city government of Baguio which is, “Upgrade, Upskill and Upsize Small Businesses,” is very apt.
He said part of upgrading is having an MSME registered with a business permit for it to avail of government services.
In Baguio City, there are 22,121 registered businesses as of August. Of the total businesses, 19,874 are microenterprises mostly engaged in wholesale and retail while 1,748 are small businesses; 423 are medium enterprises; and 76 are large scale enterprises.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong in his State of the City Address during the Baguio Day Program on Sept. 1 reiterated economic recovery and development are among his administration’s seven-point development agenda, thus the conduct of the regular Sunday Session Road Market Encounter to give local MSMEs a platform to showcase their products and connect directly with consumers.
The mayor believes the reopening of Loakan Airport will spur product exchange with Cebu and spur economic growth among local entrepreneurs.
More projects in support to MSMEs are coming according to the City Budget Office-Investments Unit including the Public-Private Partnership/Investment Summit with the theme “Public Private Partnerships: Promoting Private Sector Engagement for Sustainable Development in Baguio City” on Oct. 4 and 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan
