Trade Chief Encourages Consumers to Buy Local and Provides Christmas-Saving Tips

Christmas holidays traditionally bring Filipino families, relatives, and friends together. But how do we celebrate this special occasion without overspending on food or groceries for Noche Buena amid rising prices?

"To provide necessary guidance to our consumers and help them make informed choices, the DTI will continue to monitor the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities this Christmas season. We want to ensure that Filipino families have access to reasonably-priced goods and be able to have a bountiful celebration despite the current global development affecting prices of commodities", Trade Secretary Fred Pascual said during the pilot run of the Ikot Palengke Program of DTI held on 23 November 2022 in select supermarkets and public markets in Marikina City.

"It is important to keep track of your budget, spending habits, and know where to look for the best deals", he added, before offering some tips on how consumers can spend wisely this holiday season.

Tip No. 1: Plan what you will purchase ahead of time. Prepare a budget before you start shopping. Determine how much you can afford to spend on Christmas to avoid overspending, and then make a list of all your holiday commitments, including gifts, decorations, and travel.

Tip No. 2: Take advantage of the holiday season's sales, promos, and discounts. Select groceries and supermarkets usually offer promos, discounts, and sales during the holiday season. Taking advantage of this will help you save up and even acquire cashback offers.

Tips No.3: Use the DTI Suggested Retail Price (SRP) Bulletin and Noche Buena Price Guide found on the DTI website to help you find the best value for money. There are brands that are cheaper and more affordable to meet your budget and needs.

Tip No. 4: Patronize the Diskwento Caravan (DC) or Rolling Store Caravans (RSC), which is still being conducted nationwide to bring quality BNPCs to consumers at a lower cost. DC or RSC is a DTI initiative in partnership with manufacturers and retailers of basic necessities and prime commodities. Through RSC, producers and manufacturers can sell agricultural and manufactured BNPCs directly to consumers at a lower price. This initiative lowers prices by 10% up to 15% from the SRP. Truly, it is “Presyong Panalo para sa Mamimiling Pilipino”.

Tip No. 5: Visit and participate in the Kadiwa ng Pasko (KnP) Trade Fairs, which aim to provide cheap and affordable agricultural products such as rice, sugar, vegetables, fruits, fresh meat products (pork, beef and chicken), fish and other seafood products, coffee, processed milk, instant noodles, condiments, local bags and footwear.

Secretary Pascual stressed that, “By shopping at the Kadiwa ng Pasko Centers, you are also supporting our local farmers, fishermen, manufacturers, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).” Further, he announced the following schedules of the KnP Trade Fairs where producers and manufacturers will be selling essential foods at low prices in the NCR and across different regions as shown below:

The Trade Chief has pledged his full support to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s efforts to permanently establish Kadiwa rolling stores in every barangay across the country. This project is a revival of the original KADIWA program from the early 1980s, which was a farm-to-market supply chain and food distribution program that benefited low-income families.

"These rolling stores will help many consumers buy basic necessities like food products at lower prices, so keep an eye on the DTI Consumer Care Facebook page for the updated schedules of Kadiwa ng Pasko Trade Fairs and Rolling Stores Caravans which will be sustained until 2023", Secretary Pascual added.

GCash Brings Businesses in Araneta City’s Farmers Market into the Future

The cost and risk of doing business during the pandemic has gone up drastically, especially for market vendors who earn their income on a daily basis interacting with people and oftentimes in crowded spaces. With strict health protocols, crowded areas like markets have been challenged time and time again by the potential increase of infection, making it more difficult to get through in their respective businesses. 

But now, thanks to GCash, the leading mobile wallet app in the country, MSMEs like market vendors have a safe and convenient method of payment for its buyers through the app’s QR on Demand feature. This will first be rolled out in Farmers Market as GCash’s partners with Araneta City to make the famous market a model for a cashless palengke. With the virus being able to remain for 28 days on paper currency, With the probable risk of paper currency exchange, having cashless transactions reduces the likelihood of infection by minimizing physical transfer. Furthermore, cashless transaction also allows the vendor and vendees to practice social distancing required by the government, making cashless transaction a surefire way to ensure survivability of MSMEs during this pandemic.

"Even before the pandemic, Araneta City has been introducing digital solutions to provide convenience to its patrons. Now, the ‘City of Firsts’ continues to do so by encouraging vendors of Farmers Market to offer cashless payment options to customers via GCash,” said Martha Sazon, GCash president and chief executive officer. “For our part, we will continue to innovate our digital offerings and partner with institutions that would help us achieve this goal of giving financial access for all Filipinos." 

The leading e-wallet app introduced QR on Demand as part of its mission of financial inclusion for all, which includes supporting all types of entrepreneurs. The QR on Demand is a new and better way to securely send and receive money without having to worry about “wrong sends” due to incorrect numbers, or giving away personal information such as their mobile numbers. 

Users can easily generate their own QR Code and use this in place of giving their GCash number for safe and hassle-free payments ─ whether it’s for personal use or for small businesses. 

"As an essential establishment, Farmers Market has remained open to the public regardless of the quarantine classification imposed by the government. We have always maintained that all market personnel, vendors, and shoppers will observe compliance with health and safety protocols. We value the cashless payment platform provided by GCash as a welcome addition to our strict anti-COVID measures," according to John Castelo, Araneta City's Senior Vice President for Business Development.

GCash’s partnership with market vendors of Farmers Market at Araneta City is just among its initiatives to provide equal financial opportunities for Filipinos. Recently, GCash enabled up to 15,000 jeepney drivers to receive alternative income sources through the app under the Service Contracting Program, in partnership with Sakay.Ph. The app also provides PUJ drivers and commuters with a safe and cashless transaction option amid the pandemic via P2P QR Codes on the GCash app. 

Not yet on GCash? Simply download the GCash app for free on Google Play for Android, Apple Store for iPhone and iPad users, or Huawei Gallery to enjoy this exciting offer from GCash and airasia.

To know more, visit https://www.gcash.com/business.

About GCash

 

GCash is the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines. Through the GCash app, customers can easily buy load; pay bills at over 600 partner billers in the app; pay at more than 7,000 online partners; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines; pay using QR codes at over 130,000 partner merchants nationwide; save money while earning interest; and invest money at local and global funds -- all through the convenience of their smartphones.

 

GCash is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom, Inc. GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 40 million Filipinos in the country today.