Logistics firm supports Pinoy startup ventures

CEBU, Philippines — Foreign courier service J&T Express has committed to support home-based and startup businesses in the Philippines.

To start off its commitment, the J&T Express Philippines Zoe Chi, announced the launching of “Certified Lokalista” campaign, which celebrates the hard work, creativity and nationalism of the online sellers.

“Filipino entrepreneurs, especially those who went above and beyond amid the mobility restrictions brought about by the pandemic, deserve to be supported and recognized for their creativity and tenacity,” Chi said.

The Certified Lokalista campaign commenced in 2020 by awarding Filipino entrepreneurs with a Certified Lokalista badge that will recognize them as J&T trusted sellers.

These Certified Lokalistas, whose inspiring work has paved the way for the promotion of Filipino goods, will be awarded P20,000 worth of free shipping by J&T Express. These citations are also designed to influence more sellers to represent their own regional products online.

According to Chi, her company understood how the challenges brought about by the coronavirus crisis and its lockdowns became an opportunity for businesses to discover the advantages of e-commerce and e-logistics.

“After the pandemic greatly reduced mobility, both old and new entrepreneurs without any previous e-commerce interest or experience joined the platform in droves,” she noted.

The Hong Kong based logistics company, which only entered the Philippine market in 2019, is projecting a huge potential for small entrepreneurs to grow in the eCommerce platform post pandemic.

“It was a matter of survival because people were staying away from brick-and-mortar stores and we’re doing a lot of their shopping online. But what these sellers may or may not realize is that by joining e-commerce, they aren’t just boosting online sales—they are becoming ambassadors of their own heritage,” she said.

Four Certified Lokalistas—Maria Todi, founder of the School of Living Tradition, based in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato; Katherine Jordan of Leyte-based online food store Mary’s Abuyog Special Toskolyet Moron, atbp; Rica Dakudao-Buenaflor founder of Que Rica; and Bulacan-based culinary whiz Rheeza Santiago-Hernandez—shared their opportunities and challenges in today’s business environment, during the recently held webinar.

Certified Lokalista is an initiative that aims to encourage micro and small business owners from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to bring their products to the open and showcase Filipinos’ distinct ingenuity.

The campaign, which runs from Oct. 16, 2020 to Jan. 14, partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Trade Training Center (DTI-PTTC).