DOT to push through with shopping festival

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the 2019 coronavirus disease scare, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its partner malls and associations said they would push through with the country’s first-ever nationwide shopping sale throughout March.

The 2020 Philippine Shopping Festival is set to run from March 1 to 31 in key cities and major provinces, including the cities of Baguio, Olangapo, Metro Manila, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan; and the regions of Bicol, Cagayan Valley and Calabarzon in Luzon.

In Visayas, there will also be big-time sales in malls in the provinces of Antique, Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, as well as Mindanao malls in Butuan City, General Santos City, Agusan del Norte, Cagayan de Oro and Davao region.During the shopping fest, tourists can expect 15-percent to 70-percent discounts on many Philippine products.

Travelers can also expect substantial plane ticket discounts from Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Air Asia, as well as cheaper hotel accommodations, during the promotion period.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat invited mall-goers to “be part of the fun” by sharing their photos and stories using the official hashtag #FunFinds2020.

The shopping festival will be the country’s version of the annual Great Singapore Sale (from June to July) and Hong Kong’s summer shopping season (from July to August).

During these monthlong events, malls and many other establishments offer mega sales and discounts.