Malacañang official encourages citizens to patronize Filipino products to support local farmers and businesses

An official of Malacañang has urged Filipinos to patronize locally made products whenever they go to the groceries and markets to help local businesses recover. It will contribute positively to economic recovery efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo credit: philstar.com

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, who also heads the government’s Zero Hunger Task Force, said buying all-Filipino products can support local farmers and businesses and preserve jobs, thereby mitigating the harsh socio-economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. He said,

My advice for those going out to buy groceries: No. 1 on the list is wear a mask, No. 2, don’t forget your face shield, and No. 3, buy Filipino products,

Nograles made the remarks as the economy gradually reopens with more industries allowed to operate at limited capacity.

According to Nograles, when we support local food producers and manufacturers by patronizing their products, we help them earn by which they can retain their business and even expand their workforce.

Let’s go local, let’s go all-Filipino, 

he added.

Locally-manufactured food products are world-class and, in many cases, are cheaper than their imported counterparts, and the same goes with food staples in the market like rice. Makakatipid ka na, makakatulong ka pa sa kapwa mo Pilipino [You save money and help your fellow Filipinos],

Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said that in crafting the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2 draft law, both houses of Congress made it a point to give preference to locally-made products aimed at supporting local industries that have been suffering due to the pandemic.

We only had so much funds to work with and so we included these provisions that would ensure that our local industries would be supported without putting any pressure on government finances,

said Angara, who as chairman of the Committee on Finance defended the bill in plenary.