House bill designates November as Buy Pinoy month

MANILA, Philippines — To encourage the public to support Filipino entrepreneurs, House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar has filed a bill designating November as “Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month.”

In filing House Bill 5682, Villar underscored that such a declaration could help these entrepreneurs recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill recognizes the contribution of homegrown enterprises to the domestic economy, job generation and national development – especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which employ more than 90 percent of the workforce and bore the brunt of the pandemic.

“As we transition to economic recovery and revival, stronger support for local enterprises is crucial now more than ever,” said Villar, who represents the lone district of Las Piñas in the House of Representatives.

She noted that assistance and support in the form of marketing, information and capacity-building campaigns, which can be drivers of sales and advertisement, will have to be substantial to boost local businesses.

Under the measure, the Department of Trade and Industry shall be the lead agency in carrying out activities for Buy Pinoy Month. This shall include wide-ranging trade fairs, bazaars, marketing missions and similar events that feature Filipino ingenuity.

The bill also provides that a national trade fair be held simultaneously in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao for at least two weeks in November.

Villar added that having November as “Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month” will provide a huge marketing platform for a national audience and capacitate entrepreneurs to further improve their businesses.

“Celebrating it during the month of November enables a strategic timing where consumers will have the chance to support local brands during the holiday season and still maintain a balance of choices in the free market while entrepreneurs gain marketing and sales from prospect consumers,” she maintained.