ANGELES CITY — The local government here under the leadership of Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. launched a three-day trade and tourism fair from May 24 to 26, 2022 to continue revitalizing the tourism and business industry amid the new normal setting.
Dubbed as “Agcatan, Angeleño Pa!”, the project supervised by Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel and Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, with Angeles City Tourism Office led by Anneleen Antonio-Sugui and Angeles City Economic Development Investment and Promotions Office headed by Irish Bonus-Llego, kicked off at the new parking lot of the City Hall.
Mayor Lazatin said, the project aims to breathe new strength to the city’s tourism and business industries by showcasing local products — including those made by 21 member-merchants at the One Town One Product store; from local coffee farmers and the Kapebaluan cafe; members of the Hotels and Restaurants Association in Pampanga (HARP); and members of the Alliance of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga (ATTAP).
The fair will also hold a raffle event for Angeleños who will purchase ₱500 worth of products. Among the prizes are five Beautéderm kabuhayan showcases worth ₱10,000 each, and gift certificates for hotel accommodation and Kapebaluan cafe.
During the fair, Mayor Lazatin also underscored the resiliency of these industries in getting back on their feet, citing the OTOP which earned P744,903 in 2021, and the HARP, members of which were partner-quarantine facilities of the city government in battling the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Sa gitna ng pandemya, ang tourism at business industries po ang higit na natamaan. Kaya naman po ngayon, na unti-unti na po tayong nakakabalik sa normal, sinisikap po nating makatulong sa ating mga local merchants at business establishments,” Lazatin said.
“Naniniwala po ang ating administrasyon, na kapag po may pagtutulungan, ay tiyak po ang kaunlaran. Kaya naman po our administration has remained true to its promise of being a business-friendly city,” Lazatin added.
Lazatin thanked Beautéderm led by President and Chief Executive Officer Rei Anicoche-Tan for supporting the event, as well as MRM Mercado Holdings Corp. President Ric Mercado, Giada’s Luan Corporation; Prime City Hotel Powered by G-Tower led by Luchie Lozano; SM City Clark; and Landers Superstore.
Also present during the event were Department of Tourism Chief Tourism Operations Officer Ronsan Pelariza, HARP President Matt De Castro, ATTAP President Pamela De Guzman City Engineer Donato Dizon, Business Permit and Licensing Division Chief Evangeline Malonzo, ACTO Consultant Cecille Flores Sanchez, other department heads.