GrabMart Offers Weekend Grocery Savings with Robinsons Supermarket and Puregold

MANILA, Philippines — As households continue to look for smarter ways to manage their grocery budgets, Grab Philippines is teaming up with Robinsons Supermarket and Puregold to bring weekend savings to everyday essentials on GrabMart.

Running from May 29 to June 21, the campaign gives consumers PHP 20 off select grocery staples exclusively on GrabMart, covering fast-moving household items such as fresh meats, rice, eggs, water, and pantry basics. The campaign cements GrabMart’s position as a practical option not only for convenience, but also for value-driven grocery shopping. 

“Managing a household today requires an extraordinary amount of resourcefulness, and Grab acts as a practical partner to Filipino families in managing their daily expenses,” said Grab Philippines Chief Commercial Officer EJ Dela Vega. “Amid these economic pressures, we are making essential goods more accessible and budget-friendly. By bringing these discounted items straight to their doorsteps through GrabMart, we are helping households save time and stretch their hard-earned budgets when they need it most.”

At 20 participating Robinsons Supermarket branches, the discounts apply to fresh meat staples, including one-kilogram packs of pork pre-cut for Filipino dishes such as adobo, menudo, and sinigang, along with Monterey ground beef and country-style cuts. 

At 81 participating Puregold locations, the offer focuses on affordable options, allowing shoppers to optimize their budget. Highlighted are Puregold’s five-kilogram sacks of Harvester Dinorado and Equal long-grain rice, seven-liter containers of Wilkins distilled water, and cartons of extra-large eggs. To help maintain availability throughout the promo period, participating stores will implement daily purchase limits per item.

To extend even greater value to households this month, Grab is rolling out a flat PHP 39 delivery fee for all GrabMart grocery and pharmacy orders, running until June 30. 

As everyday spending remains top of mind for consumers, GrabMart’s latest weekend deals make essential shopping easier, more affordable, and more accessible — one grocery basket at a time.

Puregold Taps GCash Anew to Drive Digital Payment Adoption for MSMEs

Major retail chain Puregold has again partnered with GCash to expand the use of digital payments by sari-sari store owners at the 2025 Tindahan ni Aling Puring (TNAP) Convention, the country’s largest trade event for sari-sari store owners and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

 

The three-day event drew tens of thousands of participants, most of whom still rely on physical cash to manage and run their small businesses. While digital adoption has grown in recent years, cash remains the dominant mode of payment among sari-sari store owners when purchasing inventory.

 

GCash offered TNAP attendees a range of promotions and incentives to encourage merchants to shift to digital transactions. These include pre-convention campaigns, real-time cashback, and exclusive product discounts for users who pay with GCash at partner booths. The leading finance super app also set up an on-site activation booth in collaboration with Puregold, showcasing how digital tools can help store owners streamline payments, manage capital, and track purchases.

 

GCash for business general manager Jong Layug stated that the initiative is part of the company’s broader strategy to integrate digital financial services into traditional retail channels and foster digital habits among small-scale entrepreneurs.

 

“GCash is committed to helping Filipino MSMEs grow by giving them access to safe, convenient, and rewarding digital payment options. At TNAP, we’re bringing this mission to life by making every digital transaction count, whether through savings, rewards, or efficiency,” Layug said.

 

The partnership comes as Puregold seeks to deepen its role in the country’s digital transition. The retail giant, whose TNAP program is designed to support its extensive sari-sari store network, has been working to improve payment infrastructure at its stores and trade events to reduce friction in B2B transactions.

 

“Puregold has always believed in the power of MSMEs. By partnering with GCash, we are equipping our TNAP members with tools to thrive in a digital economy,” said Puregold president Vincent Co.

 

The participation of GCash in TNAP 2025 marks a continued push to embed financial technology into grassroots enterprises, positioning digital tools as drivers of growth and efficiency in the informal economy.

Globe Group’s ECPay, Puregold roll out Aling Puring App for Sari-Sari Store Owners

Globe and its subsidiary Electronic Commerce Philippines Inc. (ECPAY), together with leading supermarket chain Puregold, are ramping up the rollout of the Aling Puring app to uplift and digitalize micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), especially sari-sari stores.

The new mobile service offers Tindahan ni Aling Puring (TNAP) members a one-stop-shop for digital transactions such as cash-in, load, and bills payment.  TNAP is Puregold’s loyalty and membership program for resellers.

 

Powered and developed by ECPay, the Aling Puring app enables MSMEs to keep up with the changing business landscape and thrive in a digital economy.

 

The move supports the two companies’ continuous efforts to be a partner of MSMEs in recovering from the pandemic.

 

“Puregold has been a big part of sari-sari stores in building their businesses through the years. It is our advocacy to continuously support them in achieving their aspirations for themselves and their families. Sa lahat ng aming Ka-Asenso, nasa inyo ang panalo!” said Antonio Delos Santos II, Puregold’s VP for Operations.

 

“We are a proud partner of Puregold and we share the same purpose of helping MSMEs and contributing to nation-building through digitalization,” said Cleo Santos, Globe Channel Management Head.

 

“As part of the Globe Group, we are one with the thrust of helping pivot not only customers but even our channels into digital. And Puregold is one of our pioneer partners in digitalizing sari-sari stores.” said Jasmin Montelibano, President and CEO of ECPay.

 

To keep pace in a constantly evolving business world, the digitalization of MSMEs has become more critical than ever. Through the Aling Puring app, Puregold is able to support the growth of the sector by offering additional income opportunities through digital services.

 

Created in May last year, the app is currently being rolled out in different Puregold branches across the country. It was launched at the recent opening of Puregold’s Mango Cebu branch where around 75 sari-sari store owners joined a salu-salo or get-together aimed at onboarding more stores onto the platform.

 

Globe and Puregold are long-time partners in advocating for the digital empowerment of Filipinos to prepare them for a digitally-enabled future.

 

To learn more about ECPay, visit https://www.ecpay.com.ph/.

 

PHOTO CAPTION: Sari-sari store owners took part in a salu-salo at Puregold’s Mango Cebu branch to get onboarded on the Aling Puring app.

###

 

About ECPay

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PAYMENTS, INC. (ECPay) is the leading electronic customer purchase and payment system provider in the Philippines, enabling merchants in both the offline and online channels with the one-stop-shop proposition and offer customers convenient payment platforms. For over 21 years, ECPay has enabled retail outlets and collection partners to offer accurate, secure and timely payment services while providing merchants and billers with real-time electronic reconciliation, web-based reporting and system management. ECPay currently has over 215,000 channels nationwide.

 

Globe Holds Assisted SIM Registration in 30 Puregold Branches Across PH

To reach more customers across the country, Globe, the leader in Mobile, is opening assisted registration in 30 branches of leading supermarket Puregold as it hopes to cover as many SIM users under its network as possible before the April 26, 2023 deadline.

Globe will hold assisted SIM registration from January 27 to 29, 2023, in select Puregold branches where SIM users facing challenges in registering their SIMs can get the help they need.

“Being one of the country’s leading supermarket brands, Puregold branches across the country get heavy foot traffic and commands a diverse customer profile aligned with our own base. We go where our customers are, and we’re happy to have Puregold as a partner to widen our reach to get their SIMs registered,” said Darius Delgado, Head of Globe’s Consumer Mobile Business.

Cleo Santos, Head of Globe’s Channel Management Group, said bringing Globe’s SIM registration assistance booths to strategic locations in the country reflects its commitment to always put customers first.

“Our customers are always our top priority. They are our North Star. That’s why we’re forging partnerships with leading brands such as Puregold to make our SIM registration platform more accessible to our subscribers no matter where they are in the country,” Santos said.

“We are a proud partner of Globe in their mission to provide assistance to SIM users who have no internet access or lack the tools to register their SIMs. This is our shared goal,” said Puregold President Vincent Co.

Globe’s SIM Registration will be available at the following Puregold Jr and Puregold Price Club branches during store hours from January 27, Friday, to January 29, Sunday:

●       Puregold Price Club - Paniqui

●       Puregold - Tuao

●       Puregold Jr - Bonuan

●       Puregold Price Club - Centro Santiago

●       Puregold Price Club- Gapan

●       Puregold Price Club-Ilagan

●       Puregold Price Club - Concepcion

●       Puregold Price Club - Cabatuan

●       Puregold Price Club - Solana

●       Puregold Price Club - Allacapan

●       Puregold Price Club - Calapan

●       Puregold Price Club - Rosario, Batangas

●       Puregold Price Club - Pili

●       Puregold Price Club - Sorsogon

●       Puregold Price Club - Calauag

●       Puregold Jr – Marasbaras

●       Puregold Price Club- Borongan

●       Puregold Price Club- Carigara

●       Puregold Price Club- Kabankalan

●       Puregold Price Club - Jaro

●       Puregold Price Club - Palo

●       Puregold Price Club - Calinog

●       Puregold Price Club - Dolores

●       Puregold Price Club - Lanang

●       Puregold Jr - Tagum City

●       Puregold Price Club- Valencia, Bukidnon

●       Puregold Price Club - Cotabato

●       Puregold Jr- Digos

●       Puregold Price Club - Santo Tomas, Davao Del Norte

●       Puregold Price Club - Iligan

The booths will be open to all Globe and TM SIM users, especially senior citizens, PWDs, or those using basic/feature phones who need help to register their SIMs.

Registrants should be ready with the following information to complete the SIM registration process:

●       Full name

●       Date of birth

●       Sex

●       Address

●       Government ID with photo

●       Mobile number

Earlier this week, Globe provided support for the NTC-led assisted registration, establishing booths in 15 priority locations from January 25 to 27, 2023. Globe also provided assisted registration for festival goers at the Sinulog Festival in Cebu and the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo. Globe will roll out more SIM Registration assistance booths across the country in February.

Globe’s online SIM registration platform, https://new.globe.com.ph/simreg, is accessible 24/7 for Globe and TM users to register their SIMs. The GlobeOne app will also support SIM registration by February to give customers greater convenience.

As of January 25, Globe has logged over 10.3 million registrations on its online platform. There are 87.4 million SIM users under the Globe network.

JAO to Prevent Looming Port Congestion; Facilitate Release of Food, Medicines, PPEs

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Finance (DOF), and the Department of Agriculture (DA), among others, agreed to create a policy that will decongest the ports of Manila and help bring food, medicine, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) into the country during the COVID-19 quarantine.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had earlier ordered the PPA to clear the ports of overstaying containers in order to make way for incoming cargoes needed by the government in its campaign against the coronavirus.

"We have discussed this in previous IATF meetings and will soon issue a resolution on this. We are currently finalizing a Joint Administrative Order with PPA, BOC, DOF, DA, and other involved agencies to expedite the withdrawal of overstaying containers,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

In the proposed JAO, all overstaying cargoes that remain beyond thirty (30) days from discharge are required to be withdrawn within five (5) days from the effectivity date of the administrative order. Otherwise, cargoes will be considered abandoned.

Priority processing shall also be given to arriving cargoes, particularly food, medicine, medical and basic necessities. Containers scheduled to arrive after the issuance of the JAO must be withdrawn within ten (10) days from discharge. Otherwise, they shall also be declared abandoned.

Furthermore, appropriate penalties shall be imposed by the PPA to ensure that consignees and importers withdraw the cargo within the window provided. All refrigerated containers must be pulled out within seven (7) days, except chilled cargoes which are given five (5) days from the issuance of the JAO. Unclaimed reefers are granted a three-day grace period, and after which are declared as abandoned goods.

Upon publication, the JAO shall remain in effect until the state of public health emergency is lifted, subject to changes as may be instructed by the Office of the President.

“This is very important because port congestion creates disruptions in our supply chain. It will hinder the flow of goods and cause delays in the delivery of cargo, which will then affect the prices of goods in the market. It creates a domino effect,” Sec. Lopez explained.

“We also need to free up space in our container yards to accommodate the arrival of cargoes containing food items, medicines, and protective equipment for our front liners,” he added.

PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago earlier warned of a possible shutdown of the Port of Manila if cargo owners and consignees ignored calls to withdraw cleared, ready-for-delivery, and overstaying cargoes.

“We have repeatedly reminded consignees and importers to pullout their cargoes to lessen the congestion in our ports,” said Sec. Lopez.

At present, the yard utilization at the Manila international ports, composed of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and the Manila South Harbor, are almost at maximum capacity due to the idle movement of cleared cargoes containing perishables such as food, medicines, and other essentials following the declaration of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine.

The PPA has temporarily authorized the immediate and accelerated transfer of all overstaying foreign containers cleared for delivery or withdrawal to maintain the efficiency and productivity of the MICT.

DTI, BatStateU Join Forces to Provide Frontliners Protection Against COVID-19

As the number of COVID-19 cases increases in the country, there is also an increasingly growing concern about the lack of personal protective equipment for our frontline workers. Thus, the Department of Trade and Industry – Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG), spearheaded by Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, in collaboration with the Labspace for Innovation Knowledge-Honing and Application (LIKHA) FabLab of the Batangas State University (BatStateU), is producing face shields using 3D printed face bands and acetate films for health workers who are in the frontline against the dreaded pandemic virus.

“DTI is not only committed to ensure efficient delivery of business development services and to enforce consumer protection and education in the countryside, but also, is more devoted to be of help during this pandemic crisis. Kaya naman naisip namin na gamitin ang ilang mga ipinamahaging Shared Service Facilities (SSF) equipment sa bansa, katuwang ang mga MSMEs at ilang state universities and colleges, upang lumikha ng mas maraming face masks at face shields para sa ating mga kababayan, lalong na sa mga bayani natin ngayon na humaharap sa mapeligrosong epidemya,” said Usec. Lantayona.

The LIKHA FabLab is a Shared Service Facility funded by the DTI, where business enterprises engaged in top industries in the CALABARZON region, such as furniture-related processes and electronics, can converge with designers to create and develop models and make prototypes for mass production. It is a digital fabrication that enables collaboration and promotes transparency among designers and modellers aided by computer-controlled machines. Stored digital design using the sophisticated technology provides an array of services to make the whole furniture design. Moreover, the manufacturing team takes care of the detailed designs, analysis, documentation, and fabrication.

“The supply of additional protective face shields is our way of solving the problem in the lack of PPE for our frontliners,” said LIKHA FabLab Center Head Engr. Louie Villaverde.

According to Engr. Villaverde, they already donated 130 face shields to Batangas Medical Center. They are also planning to provide more by producing 30-40 face shields a day to different hospitals in Batangas, then later to to the hospitals in the entire CALABARZON and soon, to other frontline workers nationwide.

Engr. Villaverde noted that for now, they are in need of additional materials. Any donations or supplies of raw materials will be of great help. “We are in the position to help others. Kahit maliit o malaki, ito ay tulong pa rin,” said Engr. Villaverde.

The Center for Technopreneurship and Innovation of the Batangas State University is accepting raw materials for fabrication of face shields:

• Acetate or PVC Sheets, Size A4
• Rubber Bands (natura)
• 3D Printer Filament (PLA-type fro Ultimaker)
• ABS Sheet and Acetate for Vacuum Forming Machine

Here are some suppliers that you can contact directly as it will be difficult for the FabLab to accept monetary donations:

• Puzzlebox (3D Printer Supplier, Mr. Clark Merano, 09663383175
• ES Print Media, Inc. (ABS and Acetate), Mr. Ron Mariano, 09177129190

Donations may be sent to Batangas State University, Pablo Borbon Main II, Alangilan, Batangas City.

“We are strongly supporting the effort and initiative of LIKHA in developing innovative and effective solutions to help in combatting COVID-19. As we, in the DTI, work alongside with LIKHA, we are urging everyone, especially in the CALABARZON, to support their very important work,” DTI 4-A Director Marilou Toledo said. 

CAR MSMEs Help Cope with COVID-19 Pandemic

Benguet MSMEs produce facemasks for COVID-19! The municipality of Itogon, Benguet, through the initiative of LARNS Hills Association of Ampucao tailors, has already placed a bulk order of washable facemasks for the local community. LARNS is a recipient of the DTI's Shared Service Facility program.

Considered as the backbone of the country’s economy, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are well distributed in every place that you find them in food manufacturing, retailing, and distribution among others. In the Cordillera provinces, MSMEs are trying to cope up with the downturn of business resulting from the imposed enhanced community quarantine as a measure of protection and overcoming adversities brought by the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic. Responding to the needs of the people and inadequacy of suppliers, MSMEs took initiative in producing face masks and face shields for the community, frontliners and health workers.

In Kalinga, more than 3,000 pieces of facemasks are produced in a week while entrepreneurs from other provinces are also sewing masks to augment shortage in the area. Kalinga’s Carol Lines Ethnic Fashion, Balik-Tribo Fashion Accessories, Kinwa Etnika Handicrafts, Jajie's Native Fashion & Ifka's Weaving and other members of the Chamber of Kalinga Producers Inc. are also donating their resources, time and effort to frontliners doing extra work to contain the spread of the dreaded COVID-19.

In Mountain Province, members of the Montañosa Weavers Association (MWA), a provincial wide weaver’s organization, Guinzadan Weavers and recipient of sewing machines and looms under DTI’s Shared Service Facility (SSF) program wanted to give back to the community by donating facemasks to Sagada local government. Other SSF Cooperators, such as Guinzadan Weavers Association and Tribeline Cordi, are making washable facemasks available at affordable prices.

For Benguet province, DTI-initiated rolling stores for prime and basic commodities were scheduled in Tuba in coordination with the local government unit reaching Nangalisan in March 24, Camp-4 in March 25, Twin Peaks in March 26 and Taloy in March 27. Items sold in the four-rolling-store activity were provided by Tiong San La Trinidad through the coordination of DTI Baguio-Benguet.

Criminal charges would be filed against those suspected of overpricing and hoarding medical devices and products like alcohol, medicines, and face masks.

DTI-CAR has already coordinated with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to look into the reported scams and online selling of said medical devices at high prices.

All LGUs activated their Local Price Coordinating Councils as a mechanism to prevent and curb the possibility of price manipulation. As a council, they conduct joint monitoring to cover all basic necessities and prime commodities and other critical products, regardless of agency jurisdiction provided in the Price Act.

The country’s Price Act also maintains that the State provides effective and sufficient protection to consumers against hoarding, profiteering and cartels with respect to the supply, distribution, marketing and pricing of said goods, especially during periods of calamity, emergency, widespread illegal price manipulation and other similar situations.

As defined under Section 3 of the Price Act, “Basic Necessities” include: rice; corn; bread; fresh dried and canned fish and other marine products; fresh pork, beef, and poultry meat; fresh eggs; fresh and processed milk; fresh vegetables; root crops; coffee; sugar; cooking oil; salt; laundry soap; detergents; firewood; charcoal; candles; and drugs classified as essential by the Department of Health.