Davao de Oro: 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 the 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.
“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.) (PIA11, Michael Uy)