OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF TRADE SECRETARY RAMON LOPEZ ON THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF PRESIDENT DUTERTE TO TEMPORARILY RETURN TO MECQ

In the difficulty of balancing health and the economy, the latest pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte is a temporary step back to heed the call of medical practitioners. As mentioned the other day, we are finding ways to address their concerns. We believe in the wisdom of our President to temporarily institute stricter measures under the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) to prevent the growing number of cases, especially in the last five days. In his address, the President also outlined other measures, such as hiring more healthcare workers and providing hazard allowance and insurance, to support the needs of our valued health workers.

Under the MECQ, there are still a number of business sectors allowed although most at limited scale, while some of the recently allowed sectors under GCQ such as dine-in restaurants, barbershops, salons, and the recent additions such as gyms, review and testing centers, other personal grooming shops, internet cafes, shall not be allowed temporarily in the next 15 days.

We hope that this break will allow these businesses to sufficiently prepare for better processes and facilities for compliance to the health standards when they soon reopen.

We wish that this move back to MECQ will break the increasing trend of positive COVID cases and will eventually allow us to bring back the much needed livelihood and jobs to many of our countrymen.

DTI Bagsakan goes to Greenhills

The DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP), in keeping with its mandate to promote the efficient marketing of local products, will mount its 16th Bagsakan on July 30, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at G-Strip Parking Area, Greenhills Mall, Brgy. Greenhills, San Juan City. Featuring 21 MSMEs from the National Capital Region and the provinces of Laguna, Rizal, Palawan and Oriental Mindoro, the one-day activity will showcase food, wearables, fashion accessories, and health and wellness products.

The BDTP initiated the Bagsakan Project at the DTI Main Building on March 16 to help Guimaras mango growers sell their mangoes from the cancelled National Food Fair. Since then, the Bagsakan became a regular marketing event to help the MSMEs as well as fruit and vegetable farmers sell their products and support the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, 15 Bagsakan events have generated over Five Million Pesos in sales (Php 5,000,000.00) and assisted 65 MSMEs, farmers, fruit growers and cooperatives in regions CAR 1, 2, 3, 4A and 5.

Place your orders with the following MSMEs who will participate in the Bagsakan at Greenhills:

• SALLY’S AUTHENTIC BICOL EXPRESS - Salvacion R. Dalawampu - 09266590101  

✓bottled Bicol express, jams  

• MOONLIGHT HANDICRAFTS - Franco Rañeses - 09996757977/09369083739  

✓ washable face masks, tote bags, fans  

• QUEEN B APIARIES - Betty Sy – 09338153039 

✓ fermented bee pollen, propolis honey comb lotion w/ argan oil, honey cider, honey 

soap  

• MARC DANIELS FOOD PRODUCTS - Liza V. Zafra – 09178243027  

✓ soya milk and chocolate, tofu, chilled taho  

• BLESSED-HARVEST MARKETING - Allen Javellana -09175422999/09175671888  

✓ tablea  

• VCF CONDIMENTS INT’L CORP - Jesus P. Perillo – 09257423095  

✓ kalamansi/dalandan extract with honey  

• ZACHY SHOES - Marylinda Magbag – 09772108410  

✓ Marikina ladies’ shoes  

• PRINCESS LLONA LADIES SHOES AND BAGS - Corazon Lejano – 09989733423  

✓ Marikina men and ladies’ shoes  

• N.C. HERNANDEZ FOOD PRODUCTS - Noli Hernandez – 09998832737 

✓ snack food, crispy boneless chicken feet, crackling salmon fish skin  

• PAPAPINGS BAKED BONELESS BANGUS - Genita Sta.Juana - 09228360773  

✓ baked boneless bangus, crispy belly chon  

• CAPELLAN DELI FOOD PRODUCTS - Ronald Capellan – 09174643350  

✓ wild honey, calamansi concentrate  

• LMOR FOOD PRODUCTS - Luisito Rene M. De Boda – 09176228854  

✓ gourmet peanuts and crispy anchovies  

• AMAZING FOODS CORPORATION - Jessica R. Gutierrez – 09209074063  

✓ virgin coconut oil, herbal soap  

• BLUE MACAY CORPORATION - Katy Kinoo – 09171879025  

✓ 3-in-1 coffee mix, milk choco powder  

• ESSOILS, INC. - Endri Songcuya, Jr. – 09164128337 

✓ lemon grass iced tea with calamansi and dalandan in can  

• MOOLK CREAMERY CORP - Marilyn Duclayan – 09093081168  

✓ fresh and choco milk, yogurt, pastillas  

• PIDONG’S HOUSE OF CASHEW NUTS’ - Divina Gracia Mallanao – 09773421344  

✓ crunchy and creamy cashew butter, cashew nuts  

• EXOTIC FOOD PRODUCTS - Anna May So – 09175226363  

✓ dried fish and seafood  

• BAHAGHARI GLOBAL FOOD CORP - Anna May So – 09175226363  

✓ banana chips  

• MERL’S NATIVE DELICACIES - Anna May So – 09175226363  

✓ suman sa lihiya, coco jam  

• REAL’S FOOD PRODUCTS - Anna May So – 09175226363  

✓ coconut chips, taro and banana chips  

Payments may be made via GCASH and bank transfer for added convenience. Pick up your confirmed orders at G-Strip Parking Area, Greenhills Mall, Brgy. Greenhills, San Juan City on July 30, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Like and follow BDTP on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to get the latest news and updates.