A newly created e-commerce platform called ‘Palawan Local Market’ was launched to help the local agriculture industry of Palawan in the time of pandemic.
Palawan Local Market founder Angela Tiotangco-Alvarez said that it is her way of helping local community during pandemic. They started posting in social media since July, and this September they will push for its launching and go live in accepting orders online.
“So basically ‘yung Palawan Local Market is we aim to create a community that helps local farmers and suppliers, to promote and sell ‘yung produce nila dito sa platform namin, as of the moment directory listing pa lang kami, so we house yung mga pure and authentic Palaweno produce goods natin, the reason bakit Palaweno kasi I think wala pa tayong platform na focus on Palawenos goods or Palaweno produce,” Alvarez said.
The platform’s two main services includes a directory listing for all the local business that offer Palawan made products. The service is free until October for those who wish to include their contact details in the site; and product listing or e-commerce section where merchants can post farm produce or goods that consumers can buy online and have it delivered to their addresses.
“E-commerce produce talaga si Palawan local market, directory listing because basic marketing ang directory do’n mo makikita ‘yung contact details mo, saan ang location mo. Usually kasi here in Palawan ‘yung mga businesses ‘yung mga basic information wala actually doon, hindi na natin nakikita ‘yun let’s say sa page nila or ‘yung iba wala talagang website, so pa’no sila ngayon pupuntahan ng consumers walang nakikita ng gano’n, so kami since ang ginawa namin back to basic tayo when it comes to marketing, let’s help them ma-locate itong mga farmers or business owners,” Alvarez added.
Alvarez clarified that Palawan Local Market is unique in a sense that it is not a delivery or go-to market service business which was created during the lockdown rather she stressed that they are building a community only for legitimate products.
“What makes us unique is because our branding is aligned, our focus is Palaweno made lang, we don’t focus on pasabuy, we don’t cater yung mga supermarkets, we are not a delivery site, yung iba ganun ang ginagawa, we are not medical supply na nag-dedeliver, focus lang talaga kami sa Palaweno made,” Alvarez stress.
The platform’s operations is not limited within Puerto Princesa. Part of their plan is covering different municipalities from north to south by doing scheduled monthly delivery by area, they are also open for collaborations with other services soon that they can partner in their operations.
At present they have around 30 partners for their directory and 4 associations for their e-commerce.