Business groups, including hotel and retail establishments, launch an advocacy campaign to promote “anything local” to revive the domestic economy and cushion the effects of the health crisis.
The campaign “#Pinas Muna Tayo” debuted online Friday with representatives from the government, hotel and retail sectors coming up with concepts on how to get back and supporting each other.
Working on the premise that the country’s economic growth has been historically driven by consumption, the online movement led by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alliance Global Group Inc. and Resorts World Manila encouraged “bayanihan” among Filipinos to support local businesses first and spend their money in the Philippines to stimulate the growth of domestic consumption.
AGI chief executive Andrew Tan said the nationwide campaign would encourage partnership among the business sectors.
“This is the time to unite. We should all do that. It doesn’t matter if there are or we are prominent companies. In fact, during the crisis, quite a number of business groups and companies have actually joined together and worked together in partnership with government,” he said during the online launch of the campaign.
Tan said the two platforms of engaging consumers—virtual and physical venues—would be utilized to their full potential to push for homegrown products and services.
Tan heads Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, the property company’s brand for mall and commercial developments with at least 15 full-scale malls all over the country.
Supported by AGI companies like Emperador Inc., Global-Estate Resorts Inc., Empire East Land Holdings Inc. and Golden Arches Development Corp., master franchise holder of McDonald’s Philippines, the advocacy has gained some traction in promoting local retail.
“We can explore the informal market space where we can bring a lot of the Filipino products from all over the country into specific destinations so that it can be readily available to the public. We also want to be able to deliver some of these products to people’s homes because I know a lot of people might be scared to get out of their homes. So we’re devising a way also to be able to source products from all over the country for special finds, unique finds,” Tan said.
The #PinasMunaTayo campaign is focusing on three components, TriPinas to revive the tourism sector by promoting domestic tourism and destinations; ShoPinas to push for buying locally in support to the retail sector; and LasaPinas to reinforce the love for country by experiencing local food and hospitality.
The campaign encouraged consumers to make conscious choices to help boost the economy post-COVID 19. It includes encouraging the Filipinos to patronize local services in leisure and travel, food and restaurants, retail and shopping, among others.