Share your love for all things local online with the hashtag #FlexPHridays
The Department of Trade and Industry launched #flexPHridays, a new call-to-action campaign that aims to encourage Filipinos to support local businesses through the power of social media. The campaign went live last November 26, 2021, and will be ongoing on every succeeding Friday.
To participate in the campaign, just simply snap a photo or take a video of a Filipino product that you’re wearing, in your closet, in your home, on your office desk, or on your dining table and use the hashtag #FlexPHridays. Participants are encouraged to share the story of how they discovered the brand, where they bought it and why they find the product excellent.
The #FlexPHridays campaign welcomes all Filipino consumer goods industries: fashion and apparel, textiles, gift items, furniture, food and beverages, accessories and décor, houseware and fixtures, and technology, among other categories.
DTI foresees the campaign as a huge help in making brands and products more discoverable online as consumers share photos or videos of Filipino products on various platforms.
“Stimulating economic recovery is a monumental task, and we want to invite and involve the entire online Filipino community in this endeavor. The spirit of Bayanihan is alive and strong, and this digital #FlexPHridays campaign will help champion the beauty and quality of Filipino products in the digital space,” says Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.
This campaign was personally conceived by Secretary Ramon Lopez and is designed by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM). The program implementation will cut across all of DTI’s branches and attached agencies.
“We are proud to be part of this campaign and this fully utilizes not only the local Filipino community but our countrymen abroad to advocate for Filipino products. We envision that this campaign will not only develop our local economy but also position our country as a sourcing destination for a variety of export products,” explained CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan.
#FlexPHridays not only for consumers but also for businesses as well. DTI is inviting all entrepreneurs to participate by using the hashtag on their campaigns, engaging their endorsers to post, and also incentivizing loyal customers who use the hashtag and mention their brand.
“The campaign was designed so that it can be easily integrated in existing marketing campaigns of companies. We wanted to provide opportunities for the development of promotional and loyalty programs so companies can identify loyal customers and reward their patronage and support,” adds Trade Promotions Group Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman.
“We call on everyone to use the hashtag #FlexPHridays and wear something local during Fridays. We encourage you to post your locally-produced goods on your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok. Hopefully this transforms into a habit or culture of patronizing locally-made products as this will help restimulate demand that will bring back more jobs needed in the recovery,” says Trade Secretary Roman.
