Government and private sector buying local would be crucial for the economic recovery following the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as well as the successive typhoons, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said in yesterday’s session of the Senate.
“Again, during these trying times and the struggles that our enterprises and local industries are facing, we need to help one another. We need to draw strength from each other,” Pangilinan said during the plenary deliberations on the budget of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“So private sector and government placing emphasis on locally made products would really be a great help for the local industries,” he added.
In Bacolod, Councilor Israel Salanga, authored a resolution urging Bacolenos to support local products, including visiting local destinations and dining in local restaurants.
In his resolution Salanga cited that most of the tourism accommodation establishments, such as restaurants and cafés, including destinations in the city, have been closing down due to the decline in tourist arrival brought about by the suspension of air and sea travel due to COVID-19 pandemic.
With the changes in the quarantine protocols, restaurants are now allowed to operate in the city at 50% capacity.
The first-time councilor is optimistic that with the help and support of local residents and government employees in buying local products the city can recover and heal as one.
