Photo by Mark Perandos
Photo by Mark Perandos

Grocery shopping at home

WHEN the City Government declared a partial lockdown on March 15, they only gave five reasons that Dabawenyos can go out (1) to buy medicine, (2) if they have a patient, (3) to go to work, (4) to take the garbage out on the designated schedule, and (5) to buy food and essentials.

Because of this, people had been flocking to the supermarket ever since. Although many grocery stores have initiated their own ways of practicing social distancing, it could still be stressful and may take hours of waiting for some. And so even if grocery shopping is an allowable reason to go out of the house, others just choose to stay at home. Thank heavens for mushrooming online business that cater to this dilemma. Since the partial lockdown, the demand for online grocery shopping plus delivery had also peaked.

Here are only a few of these businesses here in Davao City. Most of these deliver the items to your doorstep wherever you are in the city.

Small basket

This distant grocery shopping app has long since been created by NCCC Supermarket but has especially gained interest from the Dabawenyos this quarantine season. Interested shoppers may download the app on Google Play and Apple Store. They can also access the online store through its website www.smallbasket.com.ph. From the app or from the website, one can click on the items that they need to purchase from dry goods to fresh items. Customers can also order items from the pharmacy, hardware, and department store. Mode of payment includes KaPartner Card by NCCC, Cash on Delivery, Credit/Debit Card, Bank transfer, and GCash.

Malagos Homegrown Produce

Malagos Garden Resort has also currently ventured into a new businesses -- bringing fresh produce to Dabawenyos. Visiting their homepage, one will be guided to an order form where they can click on the items they wish to order such as fresh vegetables, processed meat, fruits, and Malagos chocolates.

In addition to these basic essentials, customers can also choose from their selections of premium items such as fresh goat's milk, cow milk cheeses, goat cheeses, and jams and preserves in a bottle. After placing your order, wait for their call for confirmation. They will also notify whether or not they still have available stocks for some of the items you ordered. In my case, my items were delivered the day after I placed my order. Specific delivery charges also apply depending on the customer's location.

Errands Davao

As the name suggests, this page on Facebook does not only cater to grocery shopping but almost all the errands that one would need -- paying the bills, food delivery, or bringing important documents to another person. But times like this call for a higher demand for distant grocery shopping. And many of the Dabawenyos has used Errands Davao for that.

Now with more than 16,000 likes on Facebook, they have currently partnered with Lots for Less for the Dabawenyos' grocery needs. They accept orders from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily except Sundays and assures that ordered items are delivered to the customer's doorstep. Or if you're tired of cooking lunch, Errands Davao also do food take out delivery services.

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