With most of the local shops closed, the provincial government of Davao de Oro established a Facebook-based marketplace dubbed as ‘Online Palengke’, where business enterprises can continue their services, and where the residents can buy their daily needs.
During the project launching at the Serbisyo Oro Mismo Teleradyo, Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy stressed that this innovation can stir up the local economy even if the province is under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Kini is to spur economic activity jud and to provide platform para sa atoang mga micro, small and medium enterprises na maka-negosyo gihapon despite sa atong situation ron na gina-experience tungod sa COVID-19,” Governor Uy said. (This is really to spur economic activity and to provide platform for our micro, small and medium enterprises to continue doing business despite the current situation we are experiencing due to COVID-19).
Governor Uy encouraged the residents to join the Online Palengke group in their municipality via Facebook group.
“Dili lang ta mabored sa atong mga balay. At least maka income-income ta, labi natong adunay mga backyard farm na makabaligya sa atong Online Palengke.” (We should not be bored at our own houses. We can at least make income (through this platform), especially those who have backyard farms that can sell (their produce) at the Online Palengke.)
The governor disclosed that all the municipalities in the province have their own Online Palengke, managed by the respective local government units.
“Nag-meeting man ta atong niaging adlaw kauban atong mga mayor, ug niuyon sila na maghimo aning Online Palengke,” he said. (We meet (online) with our mayors the other day, and they agreed to establish the ‘Online Palengke.)
Governor Uy also emphasized that the Online Palengke will promote innovations, better products, and reasonable prices because of healthy business competition.
“Ang akoa ani, aside sa matabangan nato ang atong mga micro, small and medium enterprises, makakita pud ta ug mga maayong mga produkto gikan sa atong probinsiya” (For me, aside from helping our micro, small and medium enterprises, we can also look at better products manufactured in the province.)
He also reminded the administrators of the group and the public to be guided by the suggested retail prices set by the Local Price Coordinating Council in this time of the pandemic.
According to Republic Act 7581, all prices of basic necessities are frozen under state of calamity or emergency.
Agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Energy (DOE), have already posted the suggested retail prices of the commodities under the respective offices’ jurisdiction.
The chief executive also bared that the DTI has advised that the Online Palengke will not require business permits as of this time of crisis.
“Ang sulti sa DTI sa akoa na karon nga anaa pa ta sa State of Public Health Emergency, gihatagan pa ug lee-way kung wala pay business permit ang mamaligya. Apan paghuman niini, kinahanglan na jud ta magrehistro sa atong negosyo.” (The DTI told me that in this time of the State of Public Health Emergency, we will give lee-way to entrepreneurs who do not have business permits to do business. But after this, we will require them to register their businesses.)
The governor also added that he is thinking of establishing a province-wide Online Palengke soon.
Aside from the Online Palengke, the provincial government of Davao de Oro will be launching soon a mobile marketplace named as the Palengke Bound to Barangays (PBB).
“Ang tumong nato ani, aron maabot sa atong mga lagyo na barangay, especially sa mga IP area nato, ang mga basic na palaliton para sa ilang pang adlaw-adlaw nga panginabuhi sama sa preskong isda, karne, mantika ug uban pa,” he said. (Our purpose is for the farflung barangays, especially those in the IP area, to have access to buy basic necessities for their daily living like fish, meat, cooking oil and others.)
Governor Uy bared that the PBB is being piloted in Maco, in partnetship with Barangay Poblacion and the Poblacion Market Vendors Association.
He said that the members of the association have their own schedule and will visit as a group three to four barangays a day.
“Lisod naman gud ang mode of transportation nato sa panahon sa ECQ, so gipaduol na nato atong mga serbisyo pareho aning Online ug Mobile Palengke sa atong mga katawhan.” (Mode of transportation is difficult nowadays in this time of the ECQ, so we bring our services like the Online ug Mobile Palengke closer to the people.)
(PIA, DAVAO DE ORO)
