SINCE the lockdown, a lot of Filipinos went jobless or those with businesses losing their customers to this date. Almost all economic activities went to a halt that many have to depend on ayudas of rice, sardines, instant noodles and other basic food.
The enterprising Pinoy cannot just rely on free food packs forever. Of course its insufficient even to a mid-sized family of four to eat these dole-outs from the government and from the benevolent individuals and the private sector who have done their ways to help others.
Since malls, shopping centers, markets, shops and stalls are on a lockdown too, the internet, particularly the famous social networking site, has become the virtual market place we can shop. Before, most of the marketed items on Facebook comprise of cars, motorcycles and other motorized items. It's quite different these days.
Private message "(PM) is the key" is a popular ticket among netizens who wanted to trade for items they wish to buy and for those who offer things for sale.
I have mentioned in my column last time that the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) has made a lot of expert cooks. Food is one of the most popular items for sale on the internet. Since restaurants and food shops cannot accomodate dine-ins, delivery, take-out or pick-up mode is the trend now.
Various recipes are sold on-line with some specialty food such as lechon and other items that can only be eaten in fine dining or regular restaurants. Eating food has become popular for those who have so much time during the lockdown period. Due to such, a lot of food items are sold through the internet.
Aside from motor vehicles for sale, bicycles are now made for sale too on the web. The rising number of pedal bikes peddled is perhaps brought by the rising demand for bikes during which public transportation for commuters is suspended. The higher the demand for goods or services, the higher the number of entrepreneurs engaging in sale for such.
Shoes either made of leather or rubber, original, "replicas" or "class A" have become more popular too. Clothes, bags, apparels and other wearable items are even being sold on live camera complete with the sellers and models of these items.
Services such as air-con cleaning, painting or minor repairs or simple construction works are now also offered on-line. The lockdown has gave us the opportunity for home improvement works.
Goods and services sold online has become the new normal and I think it will become the practice even after this Covid-19 pandemic. It is more convenient and safe. It somehow promotes social distancing too since we need not go to malls and shops.
The downside of online selling however is still there. There are unscrupulous and illegitimate sellers who sell fake goods. There are these "double-crossers" who after being paid online for goods or services, they vanish into thin air, to the prejudice of the online buyer.
In addition, food or consumable items did not pass the Food and Drug Administration, thus no assurance for clean or safe items for consume. On the part of the government, items sold on-line and the selling activities of people are not taxed. Thus they are revenue losses on the part of the government. Since the internet is a free tool and window to the world, government regulations and restrictions cannot handle much on-line selling.
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