Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management-Livelihood Enhancement Support (INREMP-LES 2) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bukidnon’s project has shifted to e-commerce to sell local products of eight people’s organizations in Bukidnon amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initiative generated total sales of P62,520 after it accommodated 83 orders and linked with seven businesses since it started promoting farmer products on Facebook on April 3, 2020.
The people’s organizations, assisted by INREMP in selling products online, were originally scheduled to exhibit their local products in the National Food Fair (NFF) at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila on March 12-15, 2020. However, the event was cancelled a day before the farmers were scheduled to fly to Manila on March 10 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twenty-eight boxes of coffee, cacao, bamboo, and abaca products that were shipped in advance to Manila on March 6 were returned back to the farmers, prompting the INREMP project to assist the local farmers in augmenting their income by promoting and selling their products online.
“We have seen a great increase in sales after seeking the help of the online community in marketing the products of our assisted farmers through Facebook.” Aldon Apa-ap, Senior Value Chain Facilitator of INREMP, said. “With this, we decided to keep the momentum by making an official Facebook page for DTI Bukidnon INREMP. We want to share the stories of the remote farming communities we are working with and be a medium for their voice to be heard. We also hope to build a community of individuals who care about the farmers, the indigenous people, the environment, and the use of eco-friendly and sustainable products.”
Interested customers can order by sending a direct message to INREMP’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/DTIBukidnonINREMP. An INREMP personnel will facilitate the order until the delivery is complete. To provide additional convenience and ensure safety to the buyers, payments can be done digitally through Paymaya, GCash, Coins.ph or bank transfers. As of press time, INREMP Bukidnon is currently managing 33 booked orders with estimated total sales of P158,970.
“Dako gyud ug tabang sa amoang asosasyon ug mga lumad labi na nga naka-quarantine mi. Dili mi kapamaligya sa amoang produkto (It was really a big help in our association and to us as locals during quarantine).” shared Tessie Abunda, president of Upper Balongkot Small Farmers and Farm Workers Association Inc. (UBSFAFWA). “Maayo nalang na naay ahensiya na parehas sa DTI na ga-assist sa amo (It’s good that there is an agency like DTI who is assisting us).”
Other people’s organizations whose products are being promoted by INREMP are Barog Integrated Upland Farmers Association (BIUFA), Miarayon–Lapok–Lirongan–Tinaytayan Tribal Association (MILALITTRA), Bayanihan Millenium Multipurpose Cooperative (BMMPC), Inhandig Tribal Multipurpose Cooperative (ITMPC), Sunflower Weavers Organization (SWO) and Portulin Talaandig Tribal Association (PTTAI) and Makatagbaw Higaonon Tribal Group Association, (MAHITRIGA), Inc.♦
Date of Release: 6 July 2020