According to the site, OTOP Philippines supports micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to manufacture, offer and market distinctive products or services through the use of indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents. Through OTOP, local chief executives of each city and municipality take the lead in identifying, developing and promoting a specific product or service, which has a competitive advantage.  

OTOP Philippines offers a comprehensive assistance package through a convergence of services from Local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), and the private sector. This includes:

> Business Counselling
> Skills and entrepreneurial training
> Product design and development
> Appropriate technologies
> Marketing

The program targets MSMEs with an asset size of not more than P100 million, which account for about 99% of business establishments. The Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2004-2010 outlines the dual strategies of product development through OTOP and credit provision through SULONG (SME Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth) to support 3 million entrepreneurs and generate 6 to 10 million jobs.

Only recently, two of the country's leading business groups have given their support to the OTOP program. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DTI giving OTOP entrepreneurs access to the groups' financing program.

The OTOP Philippines is a worthy project of the government, and let's give credit where it is due. Still, more exposure should be given to OTOP program and its participants, and one way of doing this is through the internet. This way, each product will have a worldwide reach at least cost. Perhaps Pinoy bloggers should pick up this cause and promote OTOP Philippines.

(Discussion transferred to Blog.Pinoy-Business.com)