TACLOBAN CITY — The regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that this year’s Bahandi Eastern Visayas Trade Fair generated P44.9 million in total cash and booked sales during its five-day run in Metro Manila.
DTI Regional Director Celerina Bato lauded the 140 participating local producers and entrepreneurs, noting that the event continues to highlight the region’s cultural and economic wealth.
“For more than three decades, Bahandi has celebrated the richness of Region 8’s culture and resources,” Bato said.
“It connects institutional buyers with local micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs whose products reflect the authenticity and artistry of island living. From handcrafted accessories to heritage-inspired housewares, Bahandi has become a vibrant platform where abundance meets opportunity,” she added.
According to DTI Regional Information Officer Anthea Aivi Borbon-Ancheta, best-selling food items included chocolate moron (sticky rice cake), vinegar, coconut sap juice drinks, and various local noodles such as ‘odong’, ‘misua’, and pancit canton.
Among the top-selling non-food products were pandan woven bags, Basey’s iconic tikog bags, and intricate shell crafts, reflecting the region’s craftsmanship and traditional artistry.
This year’s fair also spotlighted the coconut industry, recognized as the region’s most abundant resource. Through the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), a dedicated coconut pavilion was featured, showcasing high-value coconut-based products such as coco sap, vinegar, tuba (coconut wine), coco flour, desiccated coconut, balsamic vinegar, and bukayo/bukarillo (candied coconut strips).
Buyers also explored coco peat, mixed fertilizers, and planting implements made from coconut-based materials, underscoring the industry’s growing potential for sustainable livelihood.
DTI said the P44.9 million in sales “indicates a promising growth for local entrepreneurs and their communities,” adding that the gains are expected to spur sustainable production and increased employment opportunities in the region.
Now in its 37th year, Bahandi—a Binisayá term for “treasures” or “wealth”—has been DTI’s flagship trade fair in Eastern Visayas since 1987, serving as a premier venue for connecting local producers with national and international buyers.
(RONALD O. REYES)
