President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday led the opening of the National Food Fair, celebrating Filipino culinary heritage and launching a new digital platform aimed at helping micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) reach wider markets.
In a speech launching the fair in Mandaluyong City, President Marcos lauded the creativity and resilience of Filipino food producers, from farmers to artisans, whose work, he said, brings pride and honor to the country.
“The colors are strikingly vibrant, and the mouthwatering aroma of Filipino dishes will greet you—which are truly delicious.,” he said, describing the vibrant displays at the food fair.
The event also served as the launchpad for the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Bagong Pilipinas Marketplace, a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform designed to support MSMEs in marketing their products locally and internationally.
“This is very important because it’s using digital technology to expand markets, expand supply chains, and make the delivery of goods and services more efficient,” Mr. Marcos said.
He emphasized that even the smallest vendors and producers can now tap into a much broader customer base using the platform, noting that distance is no longer a barrier in the digital space.
The marketplace will focus not only on market expansion but also on sustainability, innovation and the use of advanced technologies in food processing and manufacturing, according to the president.
DTI will spearhead the implementation of the platform, which aims to empower MSMEs by offering an accessible space to showcase products and facilitate secure, cashless transactions.
“We are validating our local producers’ capability to create high-quality products worth every peso, every centavo, and [that] can be marketed internationally,” Marcos said.
Among those present at the launch were First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Special Assistant to the President on Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, and SM Investments Corporation Vice Chair Tessie Sy-Coson.
The president thanked the private sector for its continued support in MSME development and called on both local and foreign investors to explore opportunities in the Philippine market.
“Let us continue to champion our homegrown products, elevate them to new heights, and embrace the brilliance of Filipino craftsmanship and ingenuity,” he said.