BY ERLINDA T. YUTUC (PROVINICIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
Governor Lilia G. Pineda recently expressed her acceptance of the proposed Kabyayan Center project which shall showcase the best of Pampanga products as she ordered concerned officials of the province to undertake the necessary steps and ensure its immediate implementation.
This developed during a recent meeting of the members of the provincial branding project Technical Working Group (TWG) with the governor and second district representative Gloria Arroyo.
According to Mary Michelle Quiambao, head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the province and member of the TWG, the governor, upon learning of the salient points of the proposed project, instructed Mamerto Gatus of the Provincial Cooperative and Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCEDO) and Engr. Fernando Henson of the Planning and Development Office (PPDO), heads of the TWG, to visit the target site of the Kabyayan center and to provide her with feedbacks immediately.
“The governor would like to have the Kabyayan Center operational by October in time for the Christmas season,” Quiambao reported.
Quiambao explained that the governor suggested that the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA) in the City of San Fernando would be a more suitable location instead of the initially proposed former site of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office at the Capitol compound.
“She immediately contacted Terry Carlos of the Bank of Florida to negotiate for possible temporary rental of a property right at the entry of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in San Fernando ,” Quiambao said.
“The suggested location would be more accessible to potential customers especially to local and foreign tourists,” she added.
A major component of the provincial branding project “Vida Pampanga”, the Kabyayan Center aims to showcase and highlight the best of the province’s food, furniture and ceramics home furnishings, gifts and holiday decor products.
Quiambao explained that the “Vida Pampanga” branding project seeks to further enhance the good image of the province and to make Pampanga products more distinctive and competitive in the market.
The “Vida Pampanga” seal of quality and excellence highlights the vitality and grandeur of the province and symbolizes the vision of the province to share the best of its products to the world.
During the meeting, Pineda “showed her positive acceptance of the branding program by elaborating the best qualities of the different micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province that are already accredited in the program, as well as those with potentials for being accredited,” Quiambao narrated.
The first batch of accredited food product processors in the province and qualified to carry the “Vida Pampanga” official brand totaled 11. These food product processors include Lailen’s Pastries, Sasmuan Delicacies, Aiza’s Sweets, Navarro Foods International, Inc., Aling Conching Native Products, Carreon Sweets and Pastries, Kuliat Cakes and Pastries, Emy’s Sweets & Pastries, Neri-Mar’s Hi-Sweets, R.P. Ocampo Fine Foods and Pine’s Brownies.
During the group’s meeting, DTI Representative and TWG Member Myra Gomez showed a sample of the “Vida” carry-all bag, one of the promo collaterals for the brand name, to the governor and Representative Arroyo who mentioned that she herself is looking for products which she plans to include in the Christmas packages that she will be distributing during the season.
The group is set to meet at a later date to formally present to Pineda the initial accomplishments on the project including the Kabyayan Center building designed by architects of the Don Honorio Ventura Technical State University (DHVTSU) and other details of the project, Quiambao said.
