Thousands served by Diskwento Caravan in Samar, says DTI

More than 7,000 buyers were able to purchase basic goods at a discount from the Diskwento Caravan set up by the Department of Trade and Industry in the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog in Samar last week, a Trade official said Monday.

"The DTI’s Diskwento Caravan has helped in getting rid of the people’s fear of food shortage or starvation," said DTI Samar director Meliou C. Macabare in a statement.

The caravan was in Calbayog last Tuesday and in Catbalogan the day after, offering basic goods such as rice, canned goods, biscuits, condiments and personal care products at a 10- to 15-percent discount.

The companies that participated in the caravan were Dranix Calbayog, River Valley Distributor Inc., Gardenia Bakeries Philippines, Inc., and Unilever Philippines. The National Food Authority joined the caravan as well.

According to the DTI, the number of buyers in Calbayog numbered around 2,500, while in Catbalogan there were about 5,000. Macabare said that many of the customers in Catbalogan were actually from Tacloban, Leyte and Borongan, Eastern Samar.

"We have also allowed some retailers to buy goods in bulk if the stocks are sufficient," she said.

The DTI's Diskwento Caravan project offers basic goods to consumers at a discount.

Samar was one of the provinces hit hard by super typhoon Yolanda earlier this month. The typhoon killed more than 5,000 people in the region. — BM, GMA News