Robredo rolls out Community Mart app in Pasig

WELCOME PROJECT Mayor Vico Sotto describes the Community Mart app, that now services his city, as an innovative idea.

Residents in selected areas in Pasig City can now have meat and vegetables delivered to their homes while helping small market vendors and tricycle drivers affected by the Metro-wide lockdown.

Vice President Leni Robredo said the Community Mart mobile app developed by her office as an online delivery service was now available to Pasigueños, in partnership with the city government under Mayor Vico Sotto.

“This is an innovative idea that potentially hits three birds with one stone,” Sotto told the Inquirer. “It will provide a source of income for tricycle drivers who have few passengers right now, increase the sales of our vendors, while minimizing the number of close contacts that buyers have.”The project piloted in Quezon City earlier this month, with produce and goods delivered to residents sourced from the Kamuning Market.

In Pasig, purchases will be made from the Pasig Mega Market. These can be delivered to those living in certain areas, including Ugong Proper-Valle Verde, Kapitolyo, Oranbo, Pineda, San Antonio-Ortigas area, Rosario Proper-Rosario dulo, Santa Lucia Proper-Santa Lucia/Dela Paz boundary, Santa Lucia/Cainta boundary and De La Paz-Dela Paz/Santolan boundary.

Those residing in Manggahan, Santolan and Maybunga can also avail of the service.

On her Facebook page, Robredo’s office said these villages were chosen for the pilot run in the city since they were far from the market. “In the coming days, we will work to expand our service areas,” it added.

Same-day delivery is available for orders before the 12-noon cutoff. For orders of meat and seafood, the cutoff for orders is 10 a.m.

In an earlier video message explaining the project, the online service assigns buyers who will go to the market vendors to buy the goods. After the purchase, tricycle drivers who are part of the project will make the deliveries. Right now, only cash payments are accepted.

Tricycle drivers are among the hardest hit sectors during the community quarantine due to a ban on public transport. The restriction on people’s movements has also affected the sales of market vendors.