A Fruitful Weekend with foodpanda and Blas Ople Center

While I prefer weekends spent with family and friends, sharing one fine, sunny weekend with the leading quick commerce platform provider foodpanda and Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute has provided not only knowledge of their recent fruitful partnership, but also their amazing effort in expanding their CSR program "BuyAnihan Palengke" that helps Filipino entrepreneurs to become resellers of fresh produce sourced directly from our local farmers. 

Featuring an outdoor food bazaar, Emerald Avenue in Ortigas Center, Pasig City headline once again with this Fruits and Veggies Street Fest highlighting fresh produce, food and refreshments prepared and sold by the program’s beneficiaries.

“This project started as a local program “Salubong ng Carrots Atbp.” of the Caloocan City Government through its Caloocan Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CADAO) with the Diocese of Caloocan City to provide a sustainable livelihood to several of the city’s reformed drug dependents and displaced workers become vegetable resellers. It inspired us from the private sector partners  - the Philippine Seven Corporation and foodpanda Philippines to participate and scale the program to reach other cities and people. It was the embodiment of the Filipino Bayanihan Spirit that this country is known for.” said Daniel Marogy, Managing Director of foodpanda Philippines.

Leopoldo De Castro Jr., foodpanda Philippines finance director

Aside from the food bazaar, foodpanda Philippines and Blac Ople Center hosted a recruitment program for potential new resellers, wherein interested visitors may sign-up and be shown how the app works.

BuyAnihan Palengke

Staying true to its objective of providing the underserved sector with a source of income, BuyAnihan Palengke’s resellers now include repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), local farmers, out-of-school youths, and solo parents, among others.  It is also opening its doors to interested resellers as well as foodpanda’s own partner delivery riders. 

foodpanda Riders

The outdoor food bazaar was the first collaboration between foodpanda and Ople Center, a labor non-profit organization (NGO) and a known advocate of initiatives that aid struggling Filipinos looking for livelihood. 

Affordable Fruits Mostly from Mindanao Region

Fresh Veggies from Different Local Farms in Central Luzon

“Unemployment and the lack of alternative sources of livelihood are two of the most serious economic dilemmas we are facing today. This project is a timely solution to this problem as we are able to onboard multiple sectors in just one program and provide them with a viable income stream,” tells Susan Ople, President of Blas F. Ople Center. 

Susan Ople, President of Blas F. Ople Center

The CSR project includes training both OFWs and riders with basic skills and information necessary to prepare them for their new journey as resellers. 

“With the expansion of the BuyAnihan Palengke livelihood program, we strive to innovate and look for more ways to help our stakeholders. We are happy and excited to see even more Filipinos get these livelihood opportunities,” says Leopoldo De Castro Jr, foodpanda Philippines finance director. 

Mo Kitchen offering Bagoong Flavors 

as well as Cabanatuan Longganisa and the First Crispy Isaw

As foodpanda gives its full support to the launch event, its cute and adorable mascot, Pau-Pau also made his first public appearance as one of the event’s main attractions, visiting the bazaar’s various tents of food and vegetable offerings and greeting the bazaar visitors.

The BuyAnihan Palengke CSR Project  aims to launch more projects and partnerships in the future directed at creating more livelihood opportunities for their beneficiaries, better prices to the farmers for the sale of their produce, and fresh quality products for consumers.

“Watch out for us as our increasing tribe of beneficiaries and resellers tour the Capital in the coming months to bring BuyAnihan Palengke closer to our homes.” said Ople.