Marikina shoe caravan brings windfall to footwear manufacturers in city

To many, the city’s most famous products are still the best in the world.

With barely a month left before it officially ends, manufacturers participating in Marikina City’s shoe caravan have reportedly cashed in on more than P5 million in sales.

Mayor Del de Guzman said the figure represents the money made in the first two weeks of the tour, part of the Sapatos Festival that aims to revive what many have come to regard as an ailing industry.

The shoe caravan, which visited several cities in Metro Manila, began on October 3 and will end November 18.

So far, it has visited the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas and Taguig.

“The results are very encouraging. The participating shoe manufacturers are happy since their sales continue to increase each time,” De Guzman said.

In the first week, the 30 shoe manufacturers participating in the caravan reportedly generated P2,365,762 in sales.

The figure increased to P3,091,089 in the second week.

If the trend continues, sales per city visited will rise in the following weeks as news about the caravan spreads, De Guzman said.

Earlier, Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said he would order thousands of pairs of shoes to be given away as Christmas gifts to city hall employees.

The mayors of several other cities have likewise expressed the same intent.

“If the government and the private sector would support and patronize the industry, it would greatly help Marikina as most footwear and leather goods come from here,” De Guzman said.

Republic Act No. 9290, also known as the Footwear, Leather Foods and Tannery Industries Development Act, mandates the government and encourages the private sector to source their footwear and other leather goods from domestically accredited producers and manufacturers.

The law was authored by De Guzman when he was congressman of the second district of Marikina.