The “Go Lokal!” program of the Duterte administration since 2016 has brought over a thousand micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into the mainstream markets.
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said that through the “Go Lokal” program, 275 MSMEs were given the opportunity to mainstream their produce in partnership with local retailers, and introduced 786 MSMEs to the concept stores and retail.
Lopez reported the program’s accomplishments at the launch Friday, Feb. 26, of “Go Lokal! Concept Store’s New Look and Work From Home Collection”.
Lopez also said the program has also stepped-up digitalization efforts and pursued alternative market access for MSMEs under the program, with 81 MSMEs migrating online.
As a result, the program has generated sales amounting to P361.97 million as of November last year.
Moving forward, he expressed that DTI’s our “Buy Local, Go Lokal” advocacy, which was given strong emphasis during the pandemic, will intensify the awareness and preference of the local market to purchase Filipino-made products.
“Remember: when we buy local, we create local jobs—not foreign jobs,” Lopez said
He said the reinvention of the Go Lokal! Concept Store now carries a broader selection of well-curated products but in an inspired, newly-designed space that enhances the buying experience for customers.
The reinvention was also accomplished during one of the most challenging periods in the living memory of our country.
The concept store now carry Work from Home Collection, designed by young artists and entrepreneurs of CommonRoom PH. The SILID Collection’s overall tone of positivity creates an enduring balance between work and rest, transforming the home into a sanctuary with the flexibility to be converted into a functional space for working and learning.
Lopez urged to go for the development of more sustainable processes that will help create innovative products. “Let us also continue to build retail platforms, e-commerce marketplaces, physical stores, and hybrid marketing events that will give our MSMEs greater opportunities to mainstream their products,” he said.