CLARK FREEPORT ZONE – The provincial government opened the first ever ‘Love Pampanga Kiosk’, a pasalubong center at Clark International Airport selling and promoting high-quality Kapampangan products of at least 16 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on Thursday.
The Love Pampanga Kiosk, a brain-child of Governor Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda was realized through the support of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President Alex Cauguiran, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Pampanga Public Employment Service Office(PESO) Arts Culture and Tourism Office of Pampanga (ACTOP) , members of Sweet and Delicacies Association of Pampanga (SNDAP) and Pampangueno Small Enterprises (PSE) from all over the province.
MOA for PASALUBONG CENTER — CIAC President Alex Cauguiran, Provincial Board Members Anthony Joseph Torres, Cherry Manalo and Pol Balingit lead the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on the operations of Love Pampanga Kiosk inside the airport. Looking on are Pampanga PESO Manager Luningning Vergara and Provincial Tourism Officer Nancy Pestano, Mabalacat Tourism Officer Arwin Paul Lingat and SMEDC President Teri David Carlos. PHOTO BY DANIEL OMBINA
DTI Provincial Director Elenita Ordonio said the passengers of the airport are now starting to patronize the MSMEs’ Pampanga products and commodities of their own towns and cities.
“These MSMEs represent the best commodity that their town and city can offer,” Ordonio said.
Ordonio said this was just a dream but now it has become a reality. She thanked the Governor and CIAC for making the establishment of a kiosk inside the airport possible, thus helping to boost the tourism development of the province. She also mentioned that in order to achieve the goal of showcasing the best of Pampanga brands, MSMEs must take advantage of the opportunity given by the Governor and CIAC.
“Sana po ay atin itong pangalagaan, mag-tulungan lang po tayo,” she said.
Meanwhile, 2nd District Board Member Anthony Joseph Torres said the kiosk showcases good and delicious food from Pampanga, and the ingenuity of Kapampangans to provide quality products.
Being the Culinary Capital of the Philippines, it can be assured that the products are made with “Pusong Kapampangan,” he added.
CIAC President Cauguiran, for his part, vowed to support the project, saying that these products deserve to be promoted “not just domestically but also internationally”.
“Kapag meron ng slot sa itaas, I assure you it is all yours. Kilala kasi tayo sa mga kakaiba at iba’t-ibang klase ng pagkain at kakanin kaya marapat lamang na mabigyan ng karampatang lugar o ‘special area’ para ma-promote sa mga passengers na pumupunta sa ibang lugar at bansa,” he said.
Madelyn Luna, a tourist from Davao City, said she was impressed about the idea, saying she can now share to her family how good Pampanga products are by taking home pasalubongs she bought from the Love Pampanga Kiosk, such as chicharron and sweet and delicacies.
The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Torres, on behalf of the Governor, and Cauguiran.
Also present during the event were 2nd District Anthony Joseph Torres 1st District Board Member Cherry Manalo, 4th District Board Member Pol Balingit, department heads of Pampanga, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (SMEDC) President Teri David Carlos, among others. –Leah Isidro De Fiesta