DOT gears up for month-long shopping fest

CEBU, Philippines — Cebuano consumers are encouraged to prepare for the biggest shopping festival in the entire month of March 2020, as major shopping outlets are expected to offer as much as 70 percent discount.

“During the duration of the shopping fest next month, foreign and local tourists can expect 15 percent up to 70 percent discounts on many Philippine-made products, including food and dining, jewelry and fashion, crafts, furniture, and decor, and beauty and wellness products,” said Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) chairperson Alegria Limjoco.

According to Limjoco, those people whose travels are postponed or even cancelled, can spend their money during the shopping fest instead, not only to take advantage of cheaper prices, but also to help pump prime the country’s economy as more and more businesses are affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Limjoco, who is also Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) national vice chairperson, appealed to consumers to participate in the nationwide campaign to boost the retail sector.

Philippine Retailers Association (PRA-Cebu) chairman Robert Go confirmed yesterday that the group have declared its utmost support to the Department of Tourism (DOT) initiated Shopping Festival next month.

However, Go clarified that offering big discounts shall be on a case-to-case basis as sale events usually are planned two months ahead to identify merchandizes due for discounts and price points determination, as well as promo mechanics.

“A sale needs DTI [Department of Trade and Industry ] approval from the regional office two weeks before implementation and another week of approval with DTI number of approved and signed sale promo or else we are bound to pay stiff penalties,” explained Go, who owns chain of Prince Hypermart in Visayas and Mindanao.

He added that some small and medium retailers or the homegrown boutiques might be able to implement immediately “but I’m not sure if bigger stores can do it on time unless they already have planned sale or directives from head office in Manila for their branches to implement.”

The DOT, malls and associations are gearing up for the month-long “The 2020 Philippine Shopping Festival” that will run from March 1 to 31, 2020 in Metro Manila, Agusan del Norte, Antique, Bacolod, Baguio, Bataan, Bicol Region, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cebu, Davao, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Lanao del Norte, Legazpi City in Albay, Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, South Cotabato (General Santos City) and Zambales (Olongapo City).

DOT and its partner organizations already announced the official hashtag of the biggest shopping festival in the country by far, the #FunFinds2020.

So far, malls that have already vowed to offer attractive promotions and discounts are; Araneta Group, Ayala Land Malls Inc., Duty Free Philippines Corp., Filinvest Land Inc., Greenfield Development Corp., Vista Malls, Megaworld Corp., Ortigas Land, Power Plant Mall, Robinsons Land Corp., Rustan Commercial Corp., Shangri-La Plaza Corp., SM Supermalls and Rustan’s Group’s Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI).

In a statement, DOT secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that the event is meant to reinforce the country’s bid to position as shopping destination, combining fun, unique and affordable in the entire experience.

Shopping contributes 38 percent of tourists’ expenditure, based on DOT’s latest record.

“It’s not hard to see that elevating the shopping experience will go a long way to enhance the attractiveness of our tourist destinations all over the Philippines, whether it is our big cities or in our beautiful provinces. We’ve recognized this in the National Tourism Development Plan of 2016 to 2022, where leisure, entertainment and shopping tourism is one of the 10 products we want to further develop in the next few years,” Puyat said.

Travelers can also look for affordable airfares and cheaper hotel accommodations during the promotion period.

Airline companies which committed to offer attractive fare discounts include; Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Asia, Air Carriers Association of the Philippines.