BOAC, Marinduque – The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MIMAROPA participates in the biggest trade exposition in Marinduque starting March 28 until April 8, 2023 at Marinduque Expo Arena, Boac.

Dubbed as Marinduque Expo: Moryonan 2023 – “An Agri-Tourism Trade Fair”, the exposition is part of the annual celebration of the Moriones Lenten Rites, to showcase and promote products of local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) during the season of Lent. Furthermore, it also serves as an avenue for the provincial and municipal government along with the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) to support and help the MSMEs in selling their locally produced products to attain sustainability.

The SLP beneficiaries who participated in the exposition came from the municipalities of Mogpog, Gasan, and Boac. Some of them are the Mothers Food Club Association (MFCA), Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Duyay, and ten (10) individual SLP participants who were granted livelihood assistance grants (LAG). The SLP booth showcases products handcrafted by these beneficiaries such as fans, broom, nito plates, fruit trays, food cover, key chains, chair cover, door mats, pot holders, and food items like turmeric tea, buko pie, buko juice, espasol, and peanut butter.

On its first day of sale last Monday, SLP Marinduque reported sales of P7,255.00. The team is expecting to increase the daily earnings in the next coming days as more beneficiaries will bring additional products to market their crafts.

The Marinduque Expo is held simultaneously with the Moriones Festival, a folk-religious week-long Lenten event where the province is known. ###

Contributor: Marirose Sto. Domingo, DSWD-SLP Marinduque Project Development Officer