MANILA – Companies, business organizations, and members of the private sector launched the ‘Buyanihan’ program on Friday night to support the Department of Trade Industry’s (DTI) “Buy Local, Go Lokal” campaign.
Initiated by the Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc. (AFFI), the program promotes buying local products and services to help the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) revive their businesses amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, in his speech during the 'Buyanihan' e-launch, said promoting the purchase of products and services of local MSMEs would increase and improve consumer confidence as the country gradually reopens the economy.
“The Buyanihan, initiated by AFFI, is a very good program. It really urges Filipinos to boost the Philippine economy through the massive campaign of ‘buy local’ campaign as a united effort to save the Philippine economy,” Lopez said.
Aside from AFFI and DTI, the 'Buyanihan' is organized by Go Negosyo, SM Super Malls, Globe My Business, PLDT KaAsenso, Security Bank, Union Bank, Sea Oil, and Farmacia ni Dok, with the support of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
“It’s an effort to help us bring to a better normal, not only a new normal but really to strengthen our MSMEs in the better normal towards a more inclusive and brighter future for all Filipinos,” he added.
In the same virtual event, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion underscored the need to bring back consumer confidence amid the pandemic to save the livelihood of Filipino entrepreneurs and the jobs they have created.
He added that the 'Buyanihan' campaign would reinvigorate the confidence of Filipino MSMEs.
“We have been working very hard how to save, not only lives of people but jobs and livelihood of MSMEs,” Concepcion said. “This project that you’ve launched gives very important hope despite all the odds we face as (a) nation, as entrepreneurs. We never give up.”
He added that companies were the ones to push for rapid test kits (RTKs) for Covid-19 when reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing capacity was low.
Under the Project ARK (antibody rapid test kits), led by Concepcion, companies used RTKs to test their employees and detect those with Covid-19.
“For us to run our respective businesses and bring bank consumer confidence in the marketplace, it is important for us to create visibility that we are in control of the health situation in the Philippines. Testing is the only way we can create visibility,” he added.
“Supporting our MSMEs in buying their products is very important but as equally important as consumer confidence so that we have the situation under control.”
Meanwhile, in support of the 'Buyanihan' campaign, Filipino singer Gary Valenciano also launched the 'Buyanihan' music video to support Filipino MSMEs. (PNA)
