CEBU CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Regional Operations Group (ROG), has officially launched its Christmas special project dubbed as ‘Pasa-Love’ on DTI YouTube channel.
Pasa-Love is a video promotional campaign to “buy local” as part of efforts to revive the local economy and show that the pandemic cannot stop Filipinos from celebrating Christmas.
Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis, the Christmas tradition of giving becomes more meaningful as local communities are urged to help entrepreneurs to stay economically afloat by patronizing their local products.
“Marami tayong mga kababayan ang nawalan ng hanapbuhay at kabuhayan dahil sa pandemya. Kaya ito rin ang panahon para ipadama sa lahat ang tunay na diwa ng Pasko (Many of our countrymen have lost jobs and livelihood because of the pandemic. So this is the time to make everybody feel the true essence of Christmas),” ROG Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, who spearheads the holiday campaign, said in a statement on Monday.
Lantayona said the simple act of patronizing locally-made products shows the true meaning of “bayanihan” especially during this economically challenging time.
Pasa-Love features perfect-for-the holiday products, such as gifts and household items and food products from the 16 beautiful regions of the country.
Teaser video of Pasa-Love premiered last Nov. 3 on the DTI YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/DTI_Philippines). The series will run until Dec. 18 and regularly rolls out on YouTube at 2 p.m.
The DTI regional office here has tapped Cebuana digital content creator Jen Barangan, who has become famous on social media for her flight attendant-themed TikTok videos, to share the best Christmas gift ideas made by local micro, small and medium enterprises in Central Visayas.
Barangan’s video will air on Nov. 12.
The DTI has encouraged the public to join the campaign by buying homegrown products from their favorite local producers.