OTOP stands for One Town One Product. It is a government program to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs.
Pateros, my hometown, would have an ideal OTOP since it has traditionally been known for its duck egg industry, especially the “balut” which is a duck embryo delicacy so loved by many people and reviled by as many others. Unfortunately, the balut industry in Pateros is itself on the wane due to a confluence of several factors.
For one, the river that could sustain duck raising has become very polluted and has almost vanished. For another, the land area of Pateros, by some political administrative decisions have drastically been reduced and urbanization has made it impractical to use precious real estate for raising ducks. Thus only a few old Pateros families cling on to the balut making business.
With a land area of 210 hectares Pateros is the smallest town in Metro Manila. With a population of 62,590 (2008) and very little local resource, it will be very difficult to identify an OTOP product that can be competetively manufactured in the town, create jobs and engage the entire community.
But in every problem, there is an opportunity. Our town may be small, but that does not mean that it can not be great.
I would like to propose to the local government of Pateros and to my kababayans that apart from having our own OTOP, we turn Pateros into the OTOP center of the country. Our barangays can be turned into areas corresponding to the thirteen regions of the Philippines plus that of the NCR, Cordillera and the ARMM. Each barangay can then host the OTOP of the provinces and town of their corresponding regions. Pateros will then be a living, breathing museum and showcase of Philippine products.
The benefits of this idea are many:
- Trade and traffic will increase boosting local income
- Increased traffic will spawn new businesses and create jobs
- The town will be a tourist destination as tourists who can not go to far flung places in the country can just go to Pateros
- Pateros can draw the attention of big business and developers opening opportunities for Pateros to renew and recreate itself as a modern progressive town
This OTOPian idea is admittedly ambitious, But it is not impossible. What is important is for the entire community to buy into the idea and take part in making this idea come true. The alternative is to let Pateros stagnate into insignificance trampled by the economic might of its city neighbors Makati, Pasig and Taguig.
Pateros, my hometown, would have an ideal OTOP since it has traditionally been known for its duck egg industry, especially the “balut” which is a duck embryo delicacy so loved by many people and reviled by as many others. Unfortunately, the balut industry in Pateros is itself on the wane due to a confluence of several factors.
For one, the river that could sustain duck raising has become very polluted and has almost vanished. For another, the land area of Pateros, by some political administrative decisions have drastically been reduced and urbanization has made it impractical to use precious real estate for raising ducks. Thus only a few old Pateros families cling on to the balut making business.
With a land area of 210 hectares Pateros is the smallest town in Metro Manila. With a population of 62,590 (2008) and very little local resource, it will be very difficult to identify an OTOP product that can be competetively manufactured in the town, create jobs and engage the entire community.
But in every problem, there is an opportunity. Our town may be small, but that does not mean that it can not be great.
I would like to propose to the local government of Pateros and to my kababayans that apart from having our own OTOP, we turn Pateros into the OTOP center of the country. Our barangays can be turned into areas corresponding to the thirteen regions of the Philippines plus that of the NCR, Cordillera and the ARMM. Each barangay can then host the OTOP of the provinces and town of their corresponding regions. Pateros will then be a living, breathing museum and showcase of Philippine products.
The benefits of this idea are many:
- Trade and traffic will increase boosting local income
- Increased traffic will spawn new businesses and create jobs
- The town will be a tourist destination as tourists who can not go to far flung places in the country can just go to Pateros
- Pateros can draw the attention of big business and developers opening opportunities for Pateros to renew and recreate itself as a modern progressive town
This OTOPian idea is admittedly ambitious, But it is not impossible. What is important is for the entire community to buy into the idea and take part in making this idea come true. The alternative is to let Pateros stagnate into insignificance trampled by the economic might of its city neighbors Makati, Pasig and Taguig.
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