CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — Buying goods in the public market of Bongabong town in Oriental Mindoro is now easier and more convenient for consumers just by using a mobile application.
Using the e-Palengke app in their mobile phones, locals can buy what goods they want from the town’s public market and deliver in their homes shortly and with very minimal delivery fee.
In an interview with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Oriental Mindoro Provincial Director Arnel E. Hutalla, he said that access to the market through e-Palengke allows people in Bongabong to make their purchases with ease.
“Itong e-Palengke is an online palengke kung saan yung mga taga-Bongabong, madali na lang mamalengke kasi pwede nilang i-access lang ‘yun to buy their needs. Lahat mabibili at nakalista na doon from wet and dry goods, gulay, isda, kahit kakanin nga mayroon doon. Everything is there,” he said.
While there is a minimal delivery charge for the ordered items, Hutalla assured that the cost remains affordable for locals.
“Yung mga mabibili mo sa palengke kapag inorder na ‘yun, idedeliver na rin sa bahay ng mga umorder ‘yan. Mayroon mang delivery charge pero sobrang minimal amount lang. Pwedeng cash on delivery or Gcash ang payment,” Hutalla said.
Aside from being available for download on Google Play and the Apple App Store, the e-Palengke app can also be accessed through a kiosk at the Bongabong Public Market. This kiosk allows customers to easily list the items they need, which will then be delivered to their homes on the same day their orders are confirmed.
The e-Palengke is an e-commerce digital platform launched by the local government unit (LGU) of Bongabong, which led them to win the title of Regional Champion at the inaugural Pamilihang Bayan ng Bidang Mamimili (PBBM) Awards in 2024.
The PBBM award was launched by the DTI MIMAROPA in 2024 to recognize the most consumer-friendly markets across the region.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas of the Philippine Information Agency on Tuesday, March 11, DTI MIMAROPA said that the awarding ceremony ensures that consumers’ rights and responsibilities are upheld and to also recognize LGUs with public markets that adhere to industry standards in consumer protection and empowerment.
Hutalla said that Bongabong Public Market’s success is attributed to its initiatives, as LGU has longbeen at the forefront of pushing for digital governance through the e-Palengke app.
“Ang award na nakuha ng Bongabong LGU noong 2024 sa ating PBBM awards ay testament ng pagsusulong ng digitalization sa pamamagitan ng kanilang flagship program na e-Palengke,” Hutalla said.
In a social media post, the Bongabong Public Information Office (PIO) said that this initiative aligns with the municipal government’s broader initiatives to promote Bongabong as a destination for both trade and tourism.
“This initiative is expected to boost the local economy by attracting more consumers and vendors to the Bongabong Public Market. The PBBM award serves as a testament to the dedication of local governments and public markets across MIMAROPA in providing safe, accessible, and consumer-oriented services,” Bongabong PIO said.
Looking ahead, Hutalla added that the DTI is exploring possible collaborations with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and local telecommunications companies to provide free Wi-Fi access in local markets in the whole province.
“We are trying to work for possible collaboration with DICT and with Telcos na ma-provide ng Free WiFi access sa mga palengke dito sa probinsya,” he said. (ALG/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
