Implementing Agency:

City Government of Pasig

Year Implemented:

24 March 2020 – present

Theme:

Perspectives on Productivity, Governance, and Development

General Description

The Mobile Palengke (Public Market) aims to provide communities in Pasig City access to basic necessities even while under COVID-19 quarantine restrictions.

Background and Problem

Small businesses dependent on foot traffic and face-to-face transactions have struggled during the imposition of quarantine restrictions designed to curb the spread of COVID-19. These same restrictions have also led to reduced access to basic necessities, as markets and grocery stores have had to limit the number of customers shopping at any given time to ensure the observance of health protocols and physical distancing. Local government units (LGUs), faced with a weakened economy and a dissatisfied constituency, have had to design measures and interventions that would address these challenges while maintaining a safe environment for all.

Solution and Impact

The City Government of Pasig launched the Mobile Palengke project on 24 March 2020. Inspired by a social media post, Pasig City’s Mobile Palengke are a small fleet of dropside trucks that function as roving stores that sell fresh produce, meat, and other goods sourced from the Pasig Mega Market vendors. The daily schedule of each truck is posted on the Facebook page of the Pasig City Public Information Office for easy reference.

The project is designed to bring the market closer to the community, significantly lowering the community’s exposure to COVID-19 by reducing the number of people going to the public market to buy essential goods. Market vendors also benefit from the project since the products carried by the mobile palengke are directly sourced from them. 

The Pasig LGU recognizes that ensuring food security remains a major part of its pandemic response and this online palengke project is a parallel effort to the city’s distribution of nearly 400,000 food packs to its indigent communities. They have also distributed food coupons to over 130,000 public school students which can be used to purchase food products and other necessities at the Pasig Mega Market and the Mobile Palengke.

Milestones

The Mobile Palengke has been replicated in Valenzuela City. Instead of using cargo trucks, the Valenzuela LGU has converted e-tricycles into mobile stores, as these are better suited to the city’s narrow roads. A similar initiative has also been set up in Pasay City via a partnership between the LGU and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Photos

 A cargo truck, converted into a Mobile Palengke, is deployed in a community in Pasig City (Source: Mayor Vico Sotto Official Facebook page)

Fresh produce such as meat and fish are made available at the Mobile Palengke (Source: Pasig City Public Information Office Facebook page)

Sources

Alcober, N. (2020, April 15). 130,000 Pasig students get food coupon. https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/04/15/130000-pasig-students-get-food-coupon/

Buan, L. (2020, March 28). #KopyahanNaTo: Valenzuela replicates Pasig’s mobile palengke. Rappler. https://rappler.com/nation/valenzuela-replicates-pasig-mobile-palengke

Gotinga, J. (2020, March 24). Pasig launches ‘Mobile Palengke’ to lessen public market trips. Rappler. https://rappler.com/nation/pasig-launches-mobile-palengke-coronavirus-lockdown-march-2020

Guzman, J. (2020, March 25). ‘Mobile Palengke’ brings basic goods closer to people. Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1037154

Kabagani, L. (2020, March 25). Pasig City’s ‘mobile palengke’ boosts social distancing. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097797