YOU can feel the holiday season this year compared to last year. In 2020, it was quite subdued with people being cautious about where they go or who they have contact with amid a rise in Covid-19 cases.
This 2021, the streets are brighter and livelier. The city government of Davao has lined some of the city's main streets with Christmas decors while private companies have also lit their respective Christmas trees.
Soon, bonuses will also be released to employees, some have also received theirs earlier.
By now, many are already placing orders for the noche buena or looking for gifts to give to their loved ones. Hence, it will be a good time to support our small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
With businesses expanding their digital presence, it is now easy to find an MSME that will suit your needs or wants for the holiday season. Social media will also provide people access to a variety of MSMEs in their localities. Aside from that, across the city, there are also small bazaars that you can visit to check out the products of MSMEs.
At the Abreeza Ayala Mall, you will find the Go Lokal! Concept Store of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The shop features proudly Davao-made products from local MSMEs. You will find here both non-food and food products that are great for gifts.
In the Go Lokal! campaign of the DTI-Rapid Project in Davao Region and the Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation, Inc., it said buying local is not simply "buying local." The campaign says that buying local allows you to help other MSMEs that are part of the supply chain.
The campaign urges the public to buy local as it also helps the local economy.
Many of these MSMEs are starting to get back on their feet after the pandemic affected their profits. Some of them are also in the process of trying to raise funds for the bonuses of their employees.
Therefore, the holiday season is a great time to support the local economy by buying local from your choice of MSME.