By Raymund Antonio
Ten delivery riders were initially accredited by the Quezon City government as the Office of the Vice President (OVP) conducted a dry run of an online platform to help small-scale vendors sell their products during the COVID-19 crisis.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(Charlie Villegas, OVP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
On her Sunday radio show, Vice President Leni Robredo said the dry run of the delivery of products was first conducted last Saturday (May 9) at Kamuning Market, Quezon City.
“So ito, hindi siya kompetisyon sa mga existing na online markets kasi ito naman ay ang kasali lang dito iyong maliliit, bawal ditong sumali iyong malalaki,” she said.
(So this is not a competition with existing online markets because those part of it are only small-scale vendors, the big ones are not allowed to join.)
The OVP partnered with the Quezon City government for the initiative that provides an online platform not only for small-scale vendors to sell their products, but for residents to easily access food and essential goods.
The two are currently finalizing plans to launch the app-based platform for the benefit of vendors this week.
“Ito, iyong konsepto nito, may app kang ida-download sa telepono mo, mag-o-order ka online, mayroon nagre-receive doon sa market. Tapos ide-deliver sa iyo same day, pero ang nagde-deliver mga tricycle drivers,” she said.
(The concept of this, you’ll download an app on your phones, you’ll order online, someone will receive it in the market. Then it will be delivered to you on the same day, but the tricycle drivers will deliver it.)
The initiative takes inspiration from Naga City’s “Community Mart,” an app-based e-commerce platform that helps market vendors reach more customers.
The enhanced community quarantine is set to expire on May 15, but the majority of Metro Manila mayors want another 15-day extension as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise.