To help home-grown entrepreneurs promote their products, the city government of Laoag is inviting all residents and visitors to participate in a two-day food fair at the La Paz fish port which opens on Friday at 6 p.m. and will run until Saturday, March 19.

“This is in support of our micro, small and medium entrepreneurs who have been hardly hit by the pandemic,” said mayor Michael M. Keon on Friday, saying more events like it will be mounted to help stir the local economy.

According to the organizers, at least 22 stalls will be joining the food fair, exclusive to La Paz residents only.

To attract more visitors to the upgraded La Paz fish port with around PHP144 million government funding in 2021, the city government has tapped two local bands to provide entertainment during the two-day food fair.

According to Keon, the city’s economic situation is improving as businesses are opening up again and people are returning to work.

He hopes that by conducting a series of food fairs and trade fairs in various strategic points, people will slowly recover from the pandemic after they were put under hard lockdown.

As of March 17, Laoag’s coronavirus disease 2019 cases are down to three active cases, with a total of 6,549 recoveries and 148 deaths.

Health authorities continued to remind the public to always practice minimum health and safety protocols. (PNA)