DTI Laguna offers product development and innovation training for Laguna MSMEs

Victoria, Laguna — The Department of Trade and Industry – Laguna Provincial Office (DTI-Laguna) through its One Town, One Product Next Generation Program, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, and Industry Cluster Enhancement Program provides another session of product development and innovation training and consultation for micro, small, and medium enterprises based in the Laguna Province.

Conducted last July 21, 2023, at the DTI-Laguna Provincial Office in Victoria, Laguna, with Mr. Ronald Rommel Viloria who served as the resource speake. Viloria, Managing Director at Viloria Product Design Enterprise, has been one of the consultants of DTI-Laguna in terms of product development, labeling and packaging, and innovation and design thinking.

His company is collaborating with government agencies and start-up companies to develop products that are market ready, ranging from furniture, home furnishing, home décor, and crafts to food packaging, graphic design, visual merchandising, and exhibition design.

Thirty entrepreneurs from all over the province of Laguna attended the activity and were given information on the importance of product and brand development in strengthening the identity of a product and/or business.

Viloria focused the discussion first on the marketing aspect before proceeding to product branding. He also tacked customer response and customer retention which translate to sustainable revenue streams. Aside from the plenary and open forum, Viloria also facilitated one-on-one consultation with the participants and he provided some tips on how the business may improve having their own unique selling proposition.

Footwear manufacturers from Liliw; coconut-based and cacao-based handicraft and home décor manufacturers from Luisiana, Nagcarlan, and Cavinti; barong Tagalog makers from Lumban; and food delicacies producers from Majayjay were among the participants to this event.

The said whole-day activity steered positive responses from the participants as they expressed their gratitude to the resource speaker and to the organizers for continuously providing assistance and interventions to entrepreneurs. With its thrust as one of the main economic catalyst in enabling innovative, competitive, job- generating, and inclusive businesses, DTI-Laguna spearheads programs for

entrepreneurs to help them level up their products and services including provision of latest information about product development and innovation through consultancy and/or mentoring. (CPMorales, DTI-Laguna/ Kaye Balba SP).