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2GO Travel and the Department of Trade and Industry have formalized a partnership that will set up dedicated retail spaces for Filipino micro, small and medium enterprises aboard all 2GO Travel passenger vessels
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Dedicated onboard retail spaces showcasing and selling MSME products under the OTOP Philippines Program will be rolled out across all 2GO Travel passenger vessels
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The OTOP Nooks initiative creates new retail touchpoints for Filipino-made products while giving travelers access to locally crafted goods during their journeys
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DTI-endorsed MSMEs participating in official trade fairs will also receive special discounted sea travel rates with up to 50 kilograms of baggage allowance per ticket
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2GO will also provide exclusive travel and cargo support to streamline MSME participation in trade fairs
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The nationwide MOA expands a pilot partnership between DTI Region XII and 2GO Travel that was originally launched on MV 2GO Masinag
2GO Travel and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have formalized a nationwide partnership that will embed dedicated retail spaces for Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) aboard all 2GO passenger vessels.
The program combines discounted fares and expanded baggage allowances for DTI-endorsed entrepreneurs to bring their products to trade fairs across the archipelago, the 2GO Group announced in a media release.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA), signed by 2GO Group and the DTI, establishes two complementary pillars of MSME support.
The first is a special discounted sea travel rate program for MSMEs participating in official DTI-endorsed trade fairs, paired with a 50-kilogram baggage allowance per ticket, enabling entrepreneurs to transport a diverse range of products across routes without incurring cargo costs.
The second is the rollout of OTOP Nooks across all 2GO Travel passenger ships, creating onboard retail spaces to showcase and sell products from MSMEs participating in the government’s One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Program.
The nationwide MOA expands a pilot initiative that began as a regional partnership between DTI Region XII and 2GO Travel, first launched aboard MV 2GO Masinag in October 2025. With the agreement now covering all 2GO Travel vessels, the program extends its reach to a significantly broader network of routes and consumer touchpoints across the Philippine sea lane network.
READ: 2GO partners with DTI to market regional products
DTI undersecretary Blesila Lantayona said the agreement directly addresses the mobility and market access constraints that have historically limited the reach of small Filipino producers.
“This initiative strengthens the presence of proudly Filipino products beyond their home regions and enables MSMEs to reach more consumers nationwide, with sea travel supporting their growth and mobility,” Lantayona said.
Francis John Chua, business unit head of 2GO Travel, said the combination of discounted fares, cargo allowance, and onboard retail access effectively lowers the cost of doing business for entrepreneurs who rely on physical market presence to grow their brands.
“This collaboration allows both established and aspiring MSMEs to tap into our sea travel network, and we hope that they take advantage of their 50kg baggage allowance that comes with every 2GO Travel ticket. This actually means that starting and growing your own business has never been easier. Now, you can carry the trade you want to sell with you, bring your products directly to passengers across key routes, and strengthen your visibility while maximizing our onboard retail platform,” Chua said.
READ: 2GO, DTI team up for logistics support to MSMEs
For inquiries on MSME-exclusive travel offers, stakeholders may contact tours_groups@2go.com.ph.
2GO Group, the largest point-to-point transportation and logistics provider in the Philippines, operates six business units: 2GO Sea Solutions, 2GO Special Containers and Value-Added Services, 2GO Forwarding, 2GO Logistics, 2GO Express, and 2GO Travel.
