Pinas muna tayo! Campaign launched

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) the country’s largest business organization and Andrew Tan-led firms Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) and Resorts World Manila (RWM) have partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism and Department of Science and Technology for an online campaign to promote local products and tourist destinations to help revive the economy.

Spearheaded by the PCCI, AGI and RWM, the Pinas Muna Tayo! campaign launched yesterday seeks to stimulate the growth of domestic consumption and jumpstart the economy by supporting local businesses badly hit by the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The campaign has three components: #ShoPinas to revive the retail sector by buying local, #TriPinas to help the tourism sector by traveling to local destinations and #LasaPinas to promote local food and hospitality.

PCCI president Benedicto Yujuico said the Pinas Muna Tayo! online campaign aims to help Philippine businesses affected by the COVID-19 and the lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of the virus.

“We are sending a strong message to consumers to please patronize locally produced goods and services. We are helping the recovery of Philippines SMEs  (small and medium enterprises) so they can rehire their workers,” he said.

For his part, AGI chief executive officer Kevin Tan said the group decided to be part of the campaign to help Filipino entrepreneurs.

While the campaign starts with the use of social media to promote  local products and tourist destinations, he said AGI would also be using its physical assets later on to push the advocacy.

As restrictions start to ease, he said AGI would be using its lifestyle malls to have a marketplace for products all over the country so it can be readily available to the public.

He said AGI is also planning to source unique locally made products from all over the country and offer these for delivery to customers shopping at home, as well as to use resorts and hotels to promote both Philippine goods and destinations.

Through the campaign, he said he also wants to encourage other businesses to support local products and services.

“Just like us, in Alliance Global, I call on the business community and the public to also continue believing in the Filipino. Our collective efforts will surely go a long way in giving us the power to overcome this pandemic and successfully rebuild our economy. It is high time once again to continue showing the world what it means to be a Filipino, that we are resilient and united people who can rise above any challenge,” he said.

For his part, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the campaign is expected to contribute to efforts to allow the economy to recover and get back on its feet.

He said the DTI would continue its promotion efforts for locally made products.

DTI has been partnering with retailers for Go Lokal! stores to provide a platform for Philippine made products of local micro, SMEs to gain access to the mainstream market.

“For DTI, we just have to be persistent. We just have to continuously present and promote Philippine made products, especially quality products, the competitive products,” Lopez said.