Direct selling boosts Phl economic dev't

CEBU, Philippines - Serving as an alternative livelihood and extra income opportunity for Filipinos, direct selling plays an important role in the country’s economic development with its vast membership of around 2.5 million individuals and a net sale contribution of P2.5 billion every year. Direct Selling Association of the Philippines (DSAP) Chairman Perry Mogar said that membership of such industry goes up every year as more Filipinos are empowered to earn more.

He added that as the membership grows, these direct sellers get income, pay their taxes and generate employment, thus contributing to the development of the country.

Mogar, who is president of Tupperware, noted that one of his company’s goals includes the distributor to earn a principal salary of P20, 000 every month.

He then clarified the difference of direct selling from retail, saying that the latter is not a sanction applied in the former. 

“Direct selling is empowering the dealers by talking one on one, face-to-face, person-to-person. It’s interactive unlike in retailing. It builds a relationship rather than just the product. The product is also important, without the product wala rin,” he stated. 

With direct selling as a legitimate and sustainable business, he said that Filipinos have been known to develop a unique brand system in such field.

He admitted that competition has not been an issue among companies since the national population is big enough for the industry to cater to.

DSAP Ways and Means Committee Head and Forever Living Products Philippines, Inc. Country Manager Rosalio Valenzuela, on the other hand, noted that the P25-billion sale annually is product-based, taxable income and not earned through the membership of the company’s dealers.

He further clarified that such amount of sales are only recorded based on the 31 member companies of the association.

“Even if you are employed or not, you can have an extra income at your own time to cover all your expenses. Direct selling ends up how good your product is and how you can create its value,” he said. 

Meanwhile, DSAP Education Committee Head and Symmetry Philippines General Manager Elizabeth Añana said that the association aims to educate the general public and the distributors particularly those who are new on what direct selling is. 

In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, she said that DSAP has collaborated with the government to expand its reach to the consumers, particularly in key urban and rural areas.

With its second visit in Cebu, she also noted the one-day certificate course in direct selling and network marketing held at Crown Regency Hotel on May 19 signifies the importance of the province as a booming market for direct selling. 

Dubbed as “DSAP on the Road: Livelihood Caravan or “Lakbay Hanapbuhay,” the 4th provincial run seeks to promote better appreciation on legitimate direct selling and multilevel marketing as well as to empower the public against pyramiding schemes. 

DSAP is the national trade association engaged in the business of person-to-person selling and is affiliated with the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations. (FREEMAN)