BALANGA City, Bataan: The Department of Trade and Industry provincial office started Wednesday its three-day early Christmas discount caravan, offering not less than 10 percent discount on various items from 52 small, medium enterprises at the Plaza Mayor here.
Gerry Santos, DTI – Bataan chief of consumer protection division, said 35 exhibitors are from Bataan while 17 came from Marikina City and Quezon City in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga.
He explained that they usually conduct discount caravan twice a year, one during the summer and another during the Christmas season.
During summer, the caravan is intended for the Balik-Eskwela when their exhibitors usually offer for sale school supplies, school uniforms and other school items. “Pagdating naman ng
“Maagang Pamasko Diskwento caravan”, siyempre mga maagang pang Noche Buena, mga panregalo na pwedeng mabili na natin,” Santos said.
“Kung mapapansin ninyo lagi itong naka-date tuwing a-kinse, una a-kinse ng Mayo para sa summertime, ngayon naman November 15 dahil isinasabay namin sa bonus ng mga empleyado para masulit ang kanilang mga tinanggap at makabili sila ng mga dekalidad na produkto sa dekalidad din na presyo,” he added.
Santos said the discount caravan is a project of DTI nationwide but it depends on the provincial offices when they find it convenient to schedule their respective “diskwento caravan.”
He said they can also schedule a discount caravan in affected areas after a strong typhoon or calamity.
When asked if the caravan has a targeted amount of sales, Santos said “Sa amin at least internally sa DTI nire-require kami hindi naman per discount caravan but for the year at least maka-P1 million sales pero hindi naman mahalaga yon, mas mahalaga ang layunin ng project na mailapit ang mura at dekalidad na bilihin sa mga mamimili.”
He said that the discount they require from participating exhibitors is at least 10% that can be increased depending on the sellers.
Balanga City councilor Jowee Nisay lauded DTI for holding the discount caravan again in the city. “Ang ‘diskwentro caravan’ ay talagang makakatulong sa ating mga mamimili dahil mura ang mga produkto.”
Connie Sanico, division chief and acting DTI provincial director, thanked the participants as well as Balanga City Mayor Francis Garcia and Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia 3rd for their full support in the smooth running of the “Maagang Pamasko Diskwento caravan.”
She assured customers that they will be satisfied with the wide selection of products that the three-day sale offers.
Products for sale include coffee, cashew nuts, camote chips, pastries, grocery items, plasticwares, garments, footwear, bags, wallets, snacks, handicrafts, souvenirs and arts and crafts, among some others.
