BATANG MAYNILA
Mayor Isko Moreno
I want to use this column of mine as an opportunity to invite one and all to eat, buy, or take out food or do your shopping anywhere in Manila.
Last week, we in the city government launched a contest where we are giving away 7th generation iPads to the lucky winners. This will be done every Friday for a period of four weeks.
This invitation is being extended to everyone, whether Manila residents or not, for as long as the establishment or business being patronized is within the city.
Here’s how to join. First, download the “Challenge Accepted” poster. Then, take a selfie while eating or buying in any establishment in Manila or while holding the product that you bought.
Then, post it on social media with the hashtag “#ChallengeAcceptedBuyLocalEatLocalManila” any day from Monday to Wednesday. We in the city government will then choose 20 out of the total entries and then post them on Facebook. The one that will generate the most reactions will be the winner of the iPad that is being given away.
This contest is as part of our campaign for the public to “buy local, eat local.” With this program, we hope to be able to revive the business climate in the city of Manila and once again pump up our economy which got hit real hard by the pandemic.
It is also meant to lure the public to patronize the businesses in Manila and to encourage the residents to love their own, by spending their money right in the city where they live.
These establishments that may be used in the entries need not be the posh ones. They could be simple eateries, variety stores, low-end clothing shops, marketplace, or what have you.
You can download a “selfie” while eating your favorite street food from the çarinderia of your next door neighbor or in the bar where your father drinks.
It doesn’t matter where, as long as it’s in Manila. You can even take selfies while eating or taking out orders of ready-to-eat food being sold in the marketplace like tumbong, kamto, pares or halo-halo.
The contest is also in line with the “Support Local Program” launched by business permit and licensing office chief Levi Facundo which is also aimed at supporting businesses in Manila and help them get back on their feet.
The #ManilaSupportLocalChallenge was launched by our very own BPLO chief Facundo in order to create an activity that will drive spending to local businesses, be it face to face or on-line transaction, whether goods or service, as long as the spending is made here in the city of Manila.
Our tireless chief Facundo has reported about the progress they have made since his bureau began giving out “Local Support” shirts through its seven-day challenge with almost 800 members and over 130 activities posted.
He reported that these buying activities have injected Manila’s local economy with approximately P40,000 in one week and, if continued, will make about P160,000 in one month.
Amid all these, Facundo explained to me what would happen if everyone will join and contribute.
Say we have about 3,000 members spending at an average of P300 when you eat out, do grocery, go to a salon, gas up, have coffee or snacks. That will be over P25 million injected into our local economy.
The Manila Support Local has to succeed because this will be the home of all the campaigns we are doing right now to boost our local economy.
So once again, I enjoin all of you. If you have to eat, buy or take out food and do your shopping, please, do it in Manila. Who knows? You could be one of our very lucky winners.
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Gaya ng paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, kailangan ko ang tulong ninyong lahat. Walang magmamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first!
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For updates on latest developments in the city of Manila, please visit my Facebook account --- ‘Isko Moreno Domagoso.’