BACOLOD CITY — Twenty-eight entrepreneurs in Negros Occidental earned a total sales of about PHP2.4 million during the 10-day 28th Bulawan Awards and Trade Fair held at Robinsons Place Bacolod.
The trade show, presented by the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) until Wednesday, was participated in by both member and non-member producers.
ANP figures showed sales generated on the opening day on July 23 reached PHP197,000; July 24, PHP164,000; July 25, PHP213,000; July 26, PHP191,000; July 27, PHP488,000; July 28, PHP364,000; July 29, PHP172,000; July 30, PHP203,000; and July 31, PHP192,00.
Initial sales on the closing day was pegged at PHP198,000 as of 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Maxima Madera, vice president for membership of ANP and chairperson of the 2018 Bulawan Awards, said this year’s successful activity provided another opportunity for ANP members to showcase their talents in producing new and better products.
“More innovation means more money,” she added.
On Wednesday, member-producers with excellent products were declared winners in 15 categories of six product sectors in the 2018 Bulawan Awards.
The winning entries will be presented during the press launch of the 33rd Negros Trade Fair in Manila on August 22.
The 2018 Bulawan Awards and Trade Fair was patterned after the upcoming Negros Trade Fair set on September 25 to 30 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.
This year’s theme “Sweet Talk: Sugar and Spice, Awesome and Nice” will pay tribute to the sugar industry.
The six-day event will feature creations using sugar, or its byproducts, as component.
Catherine Cusi-Lobaton, chairperson of the 33rd Negros Trade Fair, had earlier said the trade fair will continue to showcase truly Negrense products, and producers can use sugar as an “inspiration”.
Cusi-Lobaton said it will highlight the glory of the sugar industry, which has improved the lives of Negrenses and contributed to the province’s economic growth and dynamic culture.
As the sugar industry is facing many challenges, it is timely that it will be highlighted during the annual trade fair, she added.
Negros Occidental is the country’s top sugar producer, yielding about 60 percent of the country’s sugar output. (Erwin Nicavera/PNA)
