foodpanda has partnered with the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute for the expansion of the BuyAnihan Palengke CSR initiative aimed at helping enterprising Filipinos become resellers of fresh produce sourced directly from local farmers.
Dubbed as a Fruits and Veggies Street Fest, the outdoor food bazaar exhibit featured fresh vegetables & fruits and food & refreshments sold by the program’s beneficiaries.
“This project started as a local program “Salubong ng Carrots Atbp.” of the Caloocan City Government through its Caloocan Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CADAO) with the Diocese of Caloocan City to provide a sustainable livelihood to several of the city’s reformed drug dependents and displaced workers become vegetable resellers. It inspired us from the private sector partners - the Philippine Seven Corporation and foodpanda Philippines to participate and scale the program to reach other cities and people. It was the embodiment of the Filipino Bayanihan Spirit that this country is known for.” said Daniel Marogy, Managing Director of foodpanda Philippines.
Marogy explained that the special one-day food bazaar at Emerald Avenue in Ortigas marked a new phase of the project.
“And so we soft launch today the BuyAnihan Palengke Group Buy App that will help the program reach a wider market and make affordable fresh produce even more accessible to consumers. As we move forward with this project, BuyAnihan Palengke will be known not just as a CSR initiative but as a revolutionary social enterprise powered by a technology platform.” declared Marogy.
On top of the event’s food offerings, a tent was dedicated for the recruitment of potential new resellers of the project where interested visitors of the event may sign-up and be shown how the app works.
Expanding the project’s beneficiaries
Staying true to its objective of providing the underserved sector with a source of income, BuyAnihan Palengke’s resellers now include repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), local farmers, out-of-school youths, and solo parents, among others. It is also opening its doors to interested resellers as well as foodpanda’s own partner delivery riders.
The outdoor food bazaar was the first collaboration between foodpanda and Ople Center, a labor non-profit organization (NGO) and a known advocate of initiatives that aid struggling Filipinos looking for livelihood.
“Unemployment and the lack of alternative sources of livelihood are two of the most serious economic dilemmas we are facing today. This project is a timely solution to this problem as we are able to onboard multiple sectors in just one program and provide them with a viable income stream,” tells Susan Ople, President of Blas F. Ople Center.
The CSR project includes training both OFWs and riders with basic skills and information necessary to prepare them for their new journey as resellers.
“With the expansion of the BuyAnihan Palengke livelihood program, we strive to innovate and look for more ways to help our stakeholders. We are happy and excited to see even more Filipinos get these livelihood opportunities,” says Leopoldo De Castro Jr, foodpanda Philippines finance director.
As foodpanda gives its full support to the launch event, its cute and adorable mascot, Pau-Pau also made his first public appearance as one of the event’s main attractions, visiting the bazaar’s various tents of food and vegetable offerings and greeting the bazaar visitors.
The BuyAnihan Palengke CSR Project aims to launch more projects and partnerships in the future directed at creating more livelihood opportunities for their beneficiaries, better prices to the farmers for the sale of their produce, and fresh quality products for consumers.
“Watch out for us as our increasing tribe of beneficiaries and resellers tour the Capital in the coming months to bring BuyAnihan Palengke closer to our homes,”said Ople.