FROM July 1-20, Bohol’s investment in support of the calamity and pandemic stricken micro, small and medium enterprises in the Sandugo Night Market has grossed sales reaching P7,201,435.
And that is only for the 50 booths offering street food, snacks and refreshments, barbecue and food that can be had in one sitting.
This as the Provincial Government, Isang Dugo Foundation, Bohol Small Medium Enterprise Development Council (SMED-C) and Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants (BAHRR) bring in the already-making its way to institutionalization Sandugo Night Market.
The seemingly resounding success of the Sandugo Night food market however affected nearby areas offering night entertainment like Fortridge, Hideout Food Park and Baluarte in Baclayon.
These places report decreased sales in the last weeks, especially as the Sandugo Festival features live concerts by popular groups and bands, drawing crowds.
As the night market builds, it culminates with a ten-day Food Fusion where organizers pick promising food concessionaires to populate the Sandugo Festival ground booths with their offering to revelers of Bohol’s most popular celebration of brotherhood, friendship and camaraderie.
In fact, the story of the Sandugo Night market traces its faint roots in the late 1990’s when the Office of the Governor’s attached office called the Bohol Investment Promotions Center (BIPC) conceptualized Painitang Bol-anon during the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan.
From that concept, it was in 2014, when the SMED Council, BAHRR and the BIPC thought of the thriving night market in Singapore and went to the drawing boards for first public presentation of the International fusion nights.
In the experimental Fusion Nights, BAHRR and SMED-C brought in its member hotels. resorts and restaurants and local food and pastry producers to showcase the food they offer in their resorts, in one venue picked by the Provincial Government.
The Provincial Government prepares the place, and tasks the BIPC to keep tabs on the sales for future policy reforms and design enhancements.
Apart from the street food at the night market, it also offers an agricultural fair that was organized by the Provincial Agriculture Office.
Set last July 18 to 20 at the Sandugo Festival Grounds, the agri-fair attracted 23 participating local government units, 7 exhibitors and 9 participating commercial partners, according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA).
At the end of the agri-fair, organizers report a total booked sales amounting to P 780,814.00, for the three days.
The PLGU also would be monitoring the sales generated by the Fusion Nights, for future policy and program enhancement. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
