Samahan ng mga Rizalenyo sa Sektor ng Agricultura at Pagkain (SARAP) President Charo Ola said the organization is grateful for all the help provided by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) especially during the pandemic when the economy virtually shut down.

“DTI has been a partner with SARAP basically in all its endeavors. Kasama namin sila sa Tindahang Rizaleño. They are providing us with the space and with the One Town, One Product (OTOP) support because this is already an OTOP hub. During the pandemic, hindi nila (DTI) kami pinabayaan. They regularly conduct seminars and trade fairs as well doing everything to help us bounce back,” said Ola.

“Importante ang alam mo na kasama ka sa isang mas malaking organisasyon. Mahirap ang mag negosyo lalong lalo na mag-isa kang tumatahak sa journey mo lalo na these trying times. I think it’s always better to have someone guide you taking that journey.”

Other than fairs, bazaars and seminars the Tindahang Rizaleño, an OTOP hub, is one of the most fundamentally beneficial programs of DTI for SARAP. It provides them space to sell their products and an office for clerical and administrative functions, free of charge.

 “SARAP and REMAI members are present here at Tindahang Rizaleño. But we cannot accommodate those with large items or those with special needs. Kailangan ban a special storage, ice cream. Yung iba po kasi restaurants, so basically, yung info na lang, yung flyers nila are here with us,” said Ola.

SARAP is an organization for the food manufacturers in the province of Rizal. There are presently 20 members. Ola said their members always support and look out for each other.

“Main objective is to be a guide of every company that we have. We kind of mentor each other. We kind of help each other. For us to know the pains that all the food manufacturers are going through as a step in helping each other one way or another,” said Ola. “Our main requirement is that you are from Rizal. You are a food producer based in the province of Rizal. Tinatanggap po namin yung gumagawa ng sarili nilang produkto na nakahanay sa sector ng pagkain.”