The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urged the public to prioritized buying local products to help the economy recover from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said that the “Buy Local, Go Lokal” national campaign aims to boost demand for Philippine-made products, particularly those from micro and small businesses.
“Tayo po ay dito muna sa ating bayan mag-shop local, eat local, and travel local,” he said in a virtual press briefing. “Only with this support sa ating mga kababayan can we really reopen and restart our economy,” he added.
The government has geared its coronavirus response to restoring business confidence and activity after the country’s economy shrank in the first quarter this year, the first in 22 years.
Unemployment has ballooned to a record 17.7 percent, which translates to 7.3 million jobless Filipinos. Patronizing local products will help protect local employment in light of the growing unemployment.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Board of Palawan has urged Palaweños to patronized local products and visit local tourist spots in the municipalities in Palawan. She said that each town in Palawan has their respective tourism destinations, which they can visit, instead of going to other provinces. By doing so, we can help local businesses and economy to recover.
“It’s really time to appreciate our local tourist spots, kasi noong mga nakaraang panahon, talagang ang inaabangan natin ay promo fares papunta sa iba’t-ibang lugar, sa iba’t-ibang bansa. Ito ‘yong panahon natin para ma-appreciate yong nandito lamang sa ating probinsya o maging kahit lamang sa bayan natin” said Board Member Onda.