Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles urged the public to buy locally made products to help Filipino manufacturers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nograles made the statement as he reminded the public to follow minimum health protocols like the wearing of face masks and face shields whenever they go out to buy goods.
“Magsuot ng face mask, huwag kalimutan ang inyong face shield, bumili ng mga produktong gawa ng Pilipino,” he said.
“Ang mga local food producer at local food manufacturer ay makikinabang nang malaki mula sa suporta ng mga mamimili, lalo na’t kung titingnan natin ang kasalukuyang kalagayang pang-ekonomiya,” he added.
Nograles, who chairs the government’s Zero Hunger Task Force, said the local trade needs the support of the government and the people to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ang food manufacturing ay isa sa mga industriya na nakahandang mag-ambag para sa pagbangon ng ekonomiya, dahil palaging may pangangailangan para sa pagkain,” he said.
The Palace official pointed out that the food manufacturing industry has “great potential” because of the demand for food, pointing out that the manufacturing sector contributes 23-24 percent of the country’s yearly gross domestic product (GDP).
“Kapag sinusuportahan natin ang local food producers at manufacturers sa pamamagitan ng pagtaguyod sa kanilang mga produkto, tinutulungan natin silang magpatuloy at magpalago kasama na ang mga kaugnay na pagkakakitaan,” Nograles said.
He likewise urged the public to buy Filipino products as they are world-class and cheaper compared to imported items.
“Ang mga locally-manufactured na produktong pagkain ay world-class at sa maraming pagkakataon, ang mga ito ay mas mura kaysa sa kanilang imported na mga katapat,” Nograles said.
“Makakatipid ka na, makakatulong ka pa sa kapwa mo Pilipino,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)