foodpanda is expanding its BuyAnihan Palengke CSR initiative to further help ore Filipino entrepreneurs to become resellers of fresh produce directly sourced from local farmers. This was marked by a Fruits and Veggies Street Fest, a special one-day food bazaar held on April 23, 2022 at Emerald Avenue in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The event showcased fresh fruits and vegetables as well as snacks and refreshments sold by the program’s beneficiaries.
The project started as a local program ‘Salubong ng Carrots Atbp’ of the Caloocan City Government through its Caloocan Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CADAO) with the Diocese of Caloocan City to provide a sustainable livelihood to several of the city’s reformed drug dependents and to displaced workers who became vegetable resellers.
“It inspired us from the private sector partners—the Philippine Seven Corporation and foodpanda Philippines—to participate and scale the program to reach other cities and people. It was the embodiment of the Filipino bayanihan spirit that this country is known for,” said foodpanda Philippines Managing Director Daniel Marogy.
Collaboration with Blas F. Ople Center
This time, the leading quick-commerce platform provider has teamed up for the first time with non-government organization (NGO) Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, a labor group and a known advocate of efforts that support struggling Filipinos who are looking for livelihood.
“Unemployment and the lack of alternative sources of livelihood are two of the most serious economic dilemmas we are facing today,” said Blas F. Ople Center President Susan Ople. “This project is a timely solution to this problem as we are able to onboard multiple sectors in just one program and provide them with a viable income stream.”
Aligned with the foodpanda CSR initiative’s goal to provide income source to the underserved sector and with the thrust of its new partner, BuyAnihan Palengke now include resellers who are among repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), local farmers, out-of-school youth, and solo parents. It also provides opportunities to other interested resellers as well as foodpanda’s own partner delivery riders.
BuyAnihan Palengke also trains OFWs and riders to acquire the basic skills and information for the preparation for their new journey as program resellers.
“With the expansion of the BuyAnihan Palengke livelihood program, we strive to innovate and look for more ways to help our stakeholders,” said foodpanda Philippines Finance Director Leopoldo de Castro. “We are happy and excited to see even more Filipinos get these livelihood opportunities.”
BuyAnihan Palengke Group Buy App
The Fruits and Veggies Street Fest also carried out the soft launch of the BuyAnihan Palengke Group Buy App, which is designed to help the initiative reach out to a wider market and make affordable fresh produce even more accessible to local consumers.
“As we move forward with this project, BuyAnihan Palengke will be known not just as a CSR initiative but [also] as a revolutionary social enterprise powered by a technology platform,” Marogy disclosed.
During the event, a tent was also dedicated for the recruitment of possible new resellers of the project. Interested visitors were able to sign up and get a demonstration of how the new special app works.
Pau-Pau’s first public appearance
Another highlight of the event was the first public appearance of foodpanda’s very own cute and adorable mascot, Pau-Pau, who was introduced early this year through a series of TV commercials and through foodpanda’s social media pages. Pau-Pau added excitement by visiting all the tents and greeting the bazaar’s guests.
The BuyAnihan Palengke CSR Project aims to roll out more initiatives and partnerships with the constant goal to create more livelihood opportunities for beneficiaries, offer better prices to local farmers for the sale of their products, and sell fresh-quality produce to end consumers.
“Watch out for us as our increasing tribe of beneficiaries and resellers tour the Capital in the coming months to bring BuyAnihan Palengke closer to our homes,” Ople said.
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