After providing free lodging for frontliners, facilitating production and distribution of PPEs and raising millions for COVID-19 relief, Vice President Leni Robredo’s next target beneficiaries are market vendors and tricycle drivers.

On her Sunday radio show, “BISErbisyong Leni,” Robredo announced that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) will be launching a mobile application, where market vendors can sell their products online.

Inspired by Naga City’s app-based online marketplace “Community Mart,” the concept is like any other online shopping app but with same-day delivery since it will only have small-scale operations with tricycle drivers taking on the role of couriers.

“The concept is you will download an app on your phones and order online, then someone will receive it in the market. Then it will be delivered to you on the same day, but the tricycle drivers will deliver your purchase,” Robredo said.

The project, which will likely be rolled out in the coming days, is in partnership with the Quezon City local government, where last weekend a dry run of the service was conducted in Kamuning Market.

As of writing, the QC government has only accredited 10 tricycle drivers for the project.

Robredo clarified too that the OVP’s app-based service will not compete with existing big-market providers. Its focus is to help those market stall vendors and tricycle drivers in communities only, thus big markets will likewise be excluded in the project.

The service is expected to ease foot traffic in public markets where residents still flock to buy food and other necessities.

Header photo courtesy of Quezon City Government official Facebook page

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