Sari-sari stores connect Pinoys, keep communication services accessible in communities

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Sari-sari stores in the country are essential in keeping Pinoys connected and ensure that communication services are accessible to everyone with Globe retailer/partners sari-sari stores now reaching more than 1.1M across the country selling Globe Prepaid load to the public as demand for these products and services increased due to the pandemic

“Our retailers are a very important part of the value chain as they help us reach and serve the grassroots communities by making our services accessible to Filipinos especially with the current situation,” Globe EVP for Channel Management, Bernie Llamzon said.

LLamzon added that the growing need for prepaid load also helps retailers cope through the toughest of times.  Since the Philippines is one of the countries that incurred the highest economic damage caused by disasters, Globe’s loading business also helped sari-sari store owners affected by past typhoons.

She bared that in January alone, Globe, through its Community Development Program provided at least 280 retailers in provinces devastated by super typhoons Rolly and Ulysses with livelihood opportunities through a retailer package that included an LTE phone, SIM starter kit, and initial load worth P1,000.

Diana Larosa, a sari-sari store owner said: “Yung mga estudyante hindi naman lahat may WiFi. So talagang gamit na gamit nila yung data kaya talagang mas malakas magpaload. Siguro mga two times or three times a week nagpapaload yung mga tao para makapag data then siguro dahil pandemic din, hindi lumalabas so nakakapag browse ng sa facebook, sa TikTok, sa Google, sa YouTube.”

To this, Analyn Virinia, another retailer said: “Kailangan po nila na macontact po yung kanilang pamilya sa ibang lugar kaya po ang Globe po, ang pang-load ko po ang pinakamalaking tulong sa aking sari-sari store.”

“Malaking tulong ‘yung Globe kasi sa halos araw-araw, yung kinikita ko sa Globe, ipinambibili ko ng mga pangangailangan namin sa bahay. Mga bigas, ulam,” said Marianne Andrada, one of the numerous sari-sari store owners whose business has stayed afloat thanks to the loading business. (Photos: Google Images)