Legarda Invites Everyone to 2019 Sikat Pinoy National Arts and Crafts Fair

Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda today invited everyone to attend the 2019 Sikat Pinoy National Arts and Crafts Fair (NACF) to be held on October 24 to 27, 2019, at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

The NACF is a four-day fair organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP), in coordination with the Department’s Regional and Provincial Offices, and supported by the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda.

“The Sikat Pinoy National Arts and Crafts Fair is an annual event we hold to gather local enterprises and businesses to feature their products. Through the NACF, we hope to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and showcase local products, such as textiles, mats, and baskets made from indigenous or locally-sourced materials,” said Legarda.

“We also hope to widen the reach of our MSMEs, which provided for more than 63 percent of our country’s total employment in the past year,” she added.

Legarda, who principally authored Republic Act No. 9501 or the Magna Carta for MSMEs and R.A. 9509 or the Barangay Kabuhayan Act, stressed the importance of MSMEs not only in development, but also in daily living.

“MSMEs are everywhere. They have become important part of our community. It is only imperative that we strengthen our MSME programs,” she continued.

The NACF mainly highlights both contemporary art and crafts that exemplify indigenous living traditions through hand-made products, textiles and clothing, ornaments, jewelry, accessories, among others. In the past, more than 150 MSMEs from different regions across the country participated in the retail fair trade.

“I invite everyone to come and visit the NACF. It will be free admission to all,” Legarda concluded.***