LAST week, we left off at how the media giant ABS-CBN reacquired itself.
This week the same issue was tackled in the Lower House. Let us await their decisions even as we watch how our own Baguio representation abstains (?) on the much-discussed Anti-Terror Bill.
In the meantime, closer to home, about the highly successful market-to-home initiative of our local government.
Early into the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed on Baguio that began on 16 March, yours truly got invited to a Facebook chat group that was beginning the market-to-home movement for residents of Camp 8, San Vicente (Puliwes), and Camp 7. A system was set up by Councilor Philian Weygan-Allan and her staff to enable market vendors (Councilor Weygan-Allan heads our city’s Market Committee) of meat, seafood, vegetables, and some other goods -- in other words, the staples.
The system was for pre-vetted vendors to post a price list and for chat members to post their names, addresses, contact numbers, and then orders by a certain day and for the orders to then be delivered the following day to drop off points in the aforementioned barangays. It was a bit messy going at first, but after several weeks, the system had found its stride. Now, there are two delivery days each week, Monday and Friday. Market vendors post their pricelists on Sunday and Thursday. Orders are posted and accepted until 10 p.m. for deliveries the next day.
The drop off points are likewise posted, and while on the way to each point, vendors post that they are on the way to it. They also inform the chat group of when they are at each point, allowing buyers to track them in real-time and to meet their deliveries. Seniors far from the drop off points get their stuff brought to their homes. Yup.
When quarantines were eased, Councilor Weygan-Allan floated the question of whether or not to continue the project. Not surprisingly, the response was overwhelmingly for its continuance even with eased quarantines/lockdowns, what have you. This column, for one, highly endorsed the project and it is being made permanent That permanence should have the benefit of a city ordinance for it by now.
Big picture: the market-to-home system benefits not only the buyers from various barangays it services; it also benefits the city by easing traffic and crowding in town, and by helping the social distancing protocol that has become necessary in this time of Covid-19. Also, the success of the endeavor brings to the fore the city government’s current thrust for well-stocked, “real” satellite markets to be constructed in each barangay, or for a cluster of them.
The market-to-home group chat that this column belongs to ends each Monday and Friday with heartfelt expressions of thanks. I would like to end this week’s column in that way, too. Thank you so very much, Councilor Phylian, Joy DL and others on the councilor’s staff, Malou Sambrana and crew, Moana Ryanne and crew, Dyan Bayongasan and peeps, Angie Gayados and peeps. I would not be alone in saying, too, that the market-to-home prices we are charged are most fair.
It took a pandemic to make this all happen--food for much thought.