Local products from across Laoag City are taking center stage as all 80 barangays come together for a three-day fair at Aurora Park from Sept. 18 to 20.
Held as part of the city’s Tourism Month celebration, the event is organized by the city government in partnership with the Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB) through the “One Barangay, One Product” (OBOP) initiative.
Bringing Local Products Closer to Consumers
The program gives each barangay an opportunity to showcase products built around its local resources, skills, and traditions while helping community entrepreneurs connect with more customers.
LNB city president Roque Benjamin Ablan said the products on display reflect the creativity and hard work of local producers.
“Every product displayed here carries a story. It represents the creativity of our local entrepreneurs, handiwork of our farmers and producers, skills of our artisans, and the determination of our barangays to create opportunities for their people,” Ablan said during the opening on Friday.
He said the initiative also provides barangays with a platform to promote their livelihood programs and reach wider markets.
From Bamboo Crafts to Local Delicacies
The fair features a wide range of products, including innovative bamboo items that demonstrate the material’s potential for livelihood and job creation.
Visitors can also find handwoven baskets, hats, and other handicrafts made from water hyacinth, along with food products such as malunggay powder and tea, cookie bites, cassava chips, sugarcane vinegar, bagoong, and chili garlic oil.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are also available at the fair.
The initiative is supported by the departments of trade, labor, and social welfare, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Helping Community Enterprises Grow
Provincial trade office director Amelia Galvez said fairs like the OBOP showcase can help local enterprises expand their markets.
For many residents, businesses start with resources already available in their communities, from home kitchens and family farms to traditional crafts.
Through OBOP, barangays can build these small ventures into more sustainable enterprises by improving product quality, packaging, branding, production, and marketing.
The initiative ultimately aims to turn local skills and resources into lasting livelihood opportunities while helping homegrown Laoag products reach more consumers.
