The &lsquo;One Town, One Project&rsquo; (OTOP) bill is now an inch closer to becoming a law as it now lies in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&rsquo;s hands, following its separate ratification between the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 31.
Senator Mark Villar, chairman of the chamber's section on trade, business, and entrepreneurship, stated that the minor differences between Senate Bill No. 1594 and House Bill No. 1171 had previously been resolved by representatives from both chambers of Congress.
Villar said that the OTOP program aims to support and empower local industries, specifically in rural areas, creating jobs and income opportunities for the people.
He further explained that the program encourages entrepreneurship and helps boost economic growth in the Philippines by promoting and developing local products.
If the bill is passed, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will have a year to prepare a six-year national OTOP strategic growth plan.
It will be developed in collaboration with relevant parties and updated on an annual basis.

The president will be responsible for formulating and approving the OTOP program's yearly and medium-term agendas, as well as designing and implementing initiatives and strategies to achieve the goals.
According to Villar, one of the bill's new elements is a list of OTOP product characteristics: culture, community resources, innovation, connection, and competitive edge.
Other components of the OTOP program include market access, product promotion, and product promotion across several platforms.
The law, as Villar explained, would also establish a minimum set of regulations and simplify procedures and criteria for government organizations dealing with OTOP beneficiaries.
Both houses accepted a version that also seeks the establishment and formalization of a national OTOP program management office. It will be led by a director, and its organizational structure will be determined by the DTI in cooperation with the Department of Budget and Management.

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‘One Town, One Product’ bill in progress to becoming law