Department of Agriculture-MIMAROPA (DA-MIMAROPA) brought 11 exhibitors composed of farmers’ cooperatives and a start-up business from Oriental and Occidental Mindoro at the 4th MIMAROPA Naturally. The exhibitors earned a total of Php 189, 362.
MIMAROPA Naturally is an agri-trade and tourism fair that exhibits different food and non-food products and tourist destinations of the region. It was a five day event from October 17-21, 2018 held at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
It is a yearly undertaking lead by the Department of Trade and Industries (DTI) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation with the Local Government Units (LGU) of the five provinces and two cities of the Region (Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, Puerto Princesa City and Calapan City).
The exhibitors that were brought by the DA were Rural Improvement Club Foundation, Oriental Mindoro Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture Development, Anilao Orconoma Cooperative, Naujan Farmers Association, Samahan Pangkabuhayan ng mga Taga-Dulangan, Gloria Sustainable Agriculture Association, Mina de Oro Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mindoro Allium Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mindoro Organic Farmers Association,Afao-alliance of Farmers Association of Orconuma and Sheentaro.
Along with them were 129 micro, small, and medium enterprises from the five provinces of the Region. The trade fair aims to penetrate mainstream domestic and export markets, according to DTI website.
Apart from showcasing different products of the region, the fair also presented different cultural shows and workshops to lure more buyers. According to Joel B. Valera, Regional Director of DTI, the trade fair was visited by 19,000 buyers that generated more than Php 48-million sales as of his speech at 6:00 p.m. on October 21.
Awards were also given to best dressed booth, best pavilion, most innovative product , best enterprise, most improved enterprise, and to the top sellers. See below for the complete list.
| LIST OF WINNERS | |||
| Best Dressed Booth | Bambuhay Handicrafts | Palawan | |
| Best Pavilion | LGU Palawan | Palawan | |
| Most Improved Enterprise | Merl's | Oriental Mindoro | |
| Best Enterprise | Tamaraw Salt Producers Cooperative (TAMACO) | Occidental Mindoro | |
| Most Innovative Product (Food) | Mushroom Sisig by E&B Farm | Oriental Mindoro | |
| Most Innovative Product (Non-Food) | Console Table with Antique Sewing Machine by Sea Warriors Furnitures | Romblon | |
| Top Seller (Food) | Bahag Hari Global Inc. | Oriental Mindoro | |
| Top Seller (Non-Food) | Bambuhay Handicrafts | Palawan | |
| Top Seller (Pavilion) | Puerto Princesa City | Puerto Princesa City | |
