The Quezon City government on Monday, April 22, launched its first-ever permanent store for the Kilo/s Kyusi: Kilo Store ng Bayan, Tulong para sa Kinabukasan at the Quezon City hall.

The Kilo/s Kyusi Kilo Store features pre-loved and brand new items, which are sold in two ways: either by a kilo, in which the price is dependent on the weight of the pre-loved items, or individually, in which customers may find newer and higher quality items. 

(Quezon City government facebook page)

It is spearheaded by the Small Business and Cooperatives and Promotions Office (SBCDPO). 

“Kung maaari, pakinabangan sana ulit ng iba ang mga damit na hindi ginagamit na kalaunan ay naluluma lang at nagiging basura. Uso ang fast fashion lalo na at mas mura ito, pero kapalit naman ay dagdag-kalat na hindi mabilis matunaw (If possible, let others reuse the clothes that are not used that eventually just get old and become trash. Fast fashion is especially trendy and it's cheaper, but in return it's extra clutter that doesn't dissolve quickly),” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

The proceeds of the store will be used for learning recovery initiatives for public school students in the city. 

The city’s tutoring initiative, known as the Zero Illiteracy sa QC program, has been able to deploy a total of 137 capable tutors in 2023.

“It also helped 1,272 QC public school students from 25 schools, with each student receiving 50 hours of tutoring in a  span of 25 sessions,” Belmonte said. 

Mayor Belmonte expressed her gratitude to the partners and donors for the said project.

"Walang hanggang pasasalamat sa ating mga partner na tuluy-tuloy sa pagbibigay at pagdo-donate ng mga pre-loved items kaya naisakatuparan natin ang opisyal na pagbubukas ng permanenteng Kilo Store ng Bayan ngayong Earth Day (Thanks to our partners who continuously give and donate pre-loved items so we can carry out the official opening of the Kilo Store ng Bayan this Earth Day),” she added.

According to SBCDPO head Mona Celine Yap, the Kilo/s Kyusi Kilo Store was established to encourage QCitizens to donate their pre-loved items for the city’s educational initiatives.

The first Kilo/s Kyusi Store was launched on July 17–21, 2023, which generated over P1 million in sales from the donated pre-loved items of QC government officials and employees, partner organizations, and other QCitizens.

“The QC government hopes to continue the success of the Kilo/s Kyusi Kilo Store through its first-ever permanent store, helping expand the reach of the city’s learning recovery initiatives to more students in the city,” Yap said. 

The second store, which operated from December 15, 2023 to January 1, 2024, and was able to raise ₱103,722 for the QC Learning Recovery Fund. The POP QC Mercadillo’s co-organizer, Ace Events, donated an additional ₱500,000 for the cause.