By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
Pinili, Ilocos Norte—Amidst inclement weather, hundreds of local residents who are mostly housewives in this mountainous town, braved the strong and cold winds so they can shop for their family needs at the Pinili Amphitheater on November 20, 2019.
Offering discounted promo packs and freebies exclusive for the “Diswento Caravan” Noche Buena Edition of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Trade and Industry-initiated project aims to provide consumers in far flung villages the opportunity to buy basic and prime commodities at discounted prices.
Maricor Racela, senior trade industry development specialist and trade promotions officer of DTI-Ilocos Norte said in an interview that the caravan officially opened for two days.
“We urge our Pinili residents to come and avail of the different promo packages and freebies from our partner establishments,” said Ms. Racela as the annual activity is being conducted in partnership with product distributors and retailers operating in the province.
Ms. Racela said they chose this town as the venue for the Noche Buena Edition of the Diswento Caravan because “it is not every day that residents who are living in rural villages can go to the city to buy their needs”.
The Pinili Amphitheater is likewise spacious to accommodate goods of the participating establishments.
Aside from the discounted sales of noche buena packages in time for the Yuletide Season where families usually gather and eat together for merrymaking, other basic and prime commodities, electrical appliances, dry goods and other merchandise needed for household and farming activities were also available to shoppers.
Just after a simple program and ribbon cutting ceremony held at the town’s amphitheater, Pinili Mayor Rommel Labasan thanked the DTI and partner establishments for reaching out to his constituents.