The Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera and Tiongsan have revived holding this year the diskwento caravan at the Athletic Bowl on Nov. 18 to 20 in an effort to pump up the economy by encouraging consumers to spend.
Although the public is feeling the pinch of rising prices of basic and prime commodities driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the spike in fuel prices in the world market, DTI-Cordillera Asst. Director Samuel Gallardo is hopeful the caravan will help in economic recovery.
The DTI’s diskwento caravan and the Department of Agriculture’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita are among government and private sector projects that promote purchase of products direct from manufacturers. These programs assist sources of the products and encourage spending.
Gallardo said prices of the products to be sold at the caravan are expected to increase but buyers can save by availing of discounts through promos and bundle purchases.
“The giving of ayuda is not sustainable. Government will eventually run out of money. Encouraging businesses to hold activities to encourage spending is a way out of the economic slump,” Gallardo said.
Businessman Kenneth So of Granville added infusing money through public expenditure will help in economic recovery, albeit its results will not be felt immediately.
Granville, distributor of Monterey meats, is one of the 100 distributors and suppliers of grocery and household products and four micro and small enterprises that will participate in the caravan.
Tiongsan Vice President for Marketing Jasper Golangco said being the conduit between the suppliers and consumers is the company’s way of helping both sectors.
“We bridge the sellers and buyers by providing a venue for them to sell and buy direct and without profit on our end,” Golangco said.
This year’s edition of the diskwento caravan will include selling via Facebook live and acceptance of orders made online. There will also be raffle draws, consumer advocacy, mini concerts, and mentoring by DTI of startup businesses.
Before the pandemic, the caravan used to be held either at the Baguio Convention Center or the Athletic Bowl but at the height of the community quarantine, the activity was done in the different branches of Tiongsan in adherence to the directive of the Interagency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases that there should be no mass gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus that causes the Covid-19. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
April 25, 2024
