• RICHARD T. CABALLERO
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is hoping for a successful 39th Negros Trade Fair, dubbed ‘Himbon,’ which will officially kick off today and run until September 28 at SMX Aura in Taguig City.
Lacson called on Negrenses who are in Manila to visit the trade fair and for other Manileños to try and taste the flavors and the local products of Negros.
“For the Negrenses in Manila, we are hoping you can visit us, and also for our friends there and elsewhere, if you’re around Manila, come and visit the Negros Trade Fair, which is the longest-running trade fair outside Negros,” he said.
Unlike last year when the trade fair took place at Glorietta 2 in Makati City, this year’s fair will be held at the SMX Aura in Taguig City, which Lacson described as more advantageous in terms of shoppers.
“We also have a new area, which is the SMX Aura, which always has more walk-in customers, so we are hoping to take advantage of the volume of people who will patronize the mall,” he said.
Mary Ann Colmenares, 39th NTF chairperson, said that it is the first time that 23 booths will be utilized by the local government units in Negros Occidental who participated in the fair. This year’s 139 booths is the most recorded in the 39 years of NTF.
Moreover, 36 booths were allocated for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the food industry, 28 for gifts, decorations, and handicrafts, 16 for fashion brands, 3 for agricultural products, and others. Booths will also be utilized by producers from Negros Oriental.
The opening ceremony today will highlight the ‘Arima,’ a cocktail and drink fellowship by the provincial government of Negros Occidental and the Association of Negros Producers (ANP), with private partners and guests.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental allocated at least P5 million pesos to support this year’s trade fair.*
