Gears up to welcome travelers and shoppers with 6-days a week store operations

The decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases released to lower the alert level to the most relaxed Alert Level 1 was welcomed by Duty Free Philippines.

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Duty Free Philippines Chief Operating Officer Vicente Angala said, “We are grateful and welcome the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to place the National Capital Region as well as the other areas in the country under Alert Level 1.”

“This is very timely as we all know many foreigners want to enjoy our sunset, beautiful beaches and other exciting tourist destinations. Since we are in the summertime now, we at Duty Free is truly elated with this development,” Angala said.

“Part of the preparation of the Duty Free towards the economic recovery is to ensure, we will be able to offer more exciting and quality products to all our guests, Balikbayans and OFWs. We have been looking forward to this. And personally, I always tell to our team, no matter how long the night is, the sun will come to shine and it’s going to be basking,” he added.

“I have many plans in the pipeline for Duty Free Philippines. if not for the pandemic, I am sure all the things I wanted to do will be realized. But moving forward, this is just the beginning, the best is yet to come since we are in Alert Level 1 now,” Angala said.

Duty Free Store operations

Travelers, Balikbayan and OFWs can now do their tax-free shopping at our two Duty Free Stores. The Fiestamall store in Paranaque City and Luxe Duty Free Mall at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, will be ready to serve them 6 days a week for the time being and soon maybe 7 days a week.

“The reopening of our borders to international travelers will certainly increase the volume of travelers in the Philippines. I also read that there is already a 40-percent increase in arrivals in February from January. Conservatively, let’s peg it at 80% this is a good market for the Duty Free Philippines,” Angala explained.

“I expect more Filipinos who are living abroad have been wanting to come home and this is the perfect time to be back home and do your shopping. They don’t even have to worry about the safety in all our Duty Free Stores, in Fiestamall and Luxe Duty Free. We have well-established health protocols to ensure everyone’s shopping experience is not only safe but pleasurable. This is their home, and as part of our Filipino hospitality, we will make them feel at home,” he said.

Undoubtedly, the pandemic brought the travel industry to a halt, severely affecting DFPC’s business as a travel retailer. With no market to cater to, the tourism attached agency had to limit its operations, and even close a few provincial stores, to survive. 

Accordingly, with the gradual ease in tourism restrictions for the past months, DFPC has been implementing various promotional campaigns such as more significant discounts, enhanced offers, and more gifts and freebies to recapture its market of arriving international travelers. Duty Free Fiestamall has been the ultimate “pasalubong” shopping destination for the whole family of balikbayans and Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and DFPC continues to enhance this unique experience with more enjoyable deals. Luxe Duty Free likewise has enhanced its offering of premium brands to continually meet the discriminating taste of its loyal market of foreign tourists and regular travelers.

Under Alert Level 1, store hours for the Fiestamall will be from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, while Luxe Duty Free is open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays.

For regular updates and more information, visit DFPC’s official portal at www.dfp.com.ph or its social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@dutyfreephils).

Apart from enforcing “new normal”policies, government’s greatest struggle is obviously striking the perfect balance between lives and livelihood. Sadly, some of the supposed best and brightest in public policy add up to this administration’s existing problems. May I remind you, Mr. President, that the public who endures most the hardships of these times can wear down, but never be blind.

Middle of last year, DILG Secretary Eduado Año and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, or IATF for short, did not allow back-riding on motorcycles, except for husbands and wives, common-law couples, and live-in partners. Back then, only Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) were traveling — mostly for work; the movers of the economy. Yet, workers — the little of them left — who had no other option to reach their workplaces but through motorbike-taxis were forced to get off the road and walk. Then, Angkas drivers were forced to buy plastic shield apparatus under a “no protective barrier, no travel” policy.

New case in point is the proposed enforcement of a seat booster for the 12 years old and below who are not taller than 4’11”. The son of Albert Einstein (pun intended!), LTO-National Capital Region Director Attorney Clarence Guinto, advised parents with tall children to “get bigger cars” in order to comply with the new car seat law. When he was bashed, he said it was a joke. But for those who watched the interview over DZMM TeleRadyo, when radio program host, Amy Perez told Atty. Guinto that his suggestion is not workable because others don’t have the means to buy a bigger car, the lawyer said, he would “take into consideration this concern.” Meaning that the suggestion to get a bigger car was not said in jest, because if it were, he would have answered, “I am just joking.”

Another problem-maker instead of solution provider is the author of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, former Senator JV Ejercito (Thank heaven, he did not win as there are already many comedians in the Senate). Anyway, “the son of Johannes Kepler” made a brilliant suggestion for those who are riding a taxi or TNVS to comply with his pet law by bringing your own child car seat! Perhaps, Atty. Guinto and former Senator JV are related to each other by frame of thought or slapstick comedy.

But wait, it doesn’t end there. The latest from the IATF is the requirement for everyone to wear face masks inside vehicles even if they are from the same household. Violators would be fined the same amount of penalty for “reckless driving.” This brings us back to the genius of IATF officials, who might also be related to Atty. Guinto and ex-senator JV, wouldn’t you think?

Indeed, it’s more fun in the Philippines when there are loads of jokes going around in the form of public officials who create problems when they are called upon by extraordinary times to find solutions that would unburden their bosses — we citizens who pay our taxes. Their jokes, however, lose their tickle so easily and are painfully biting to the general public. Can we fire these people in our employ? I sure hope so, ’cause there are a lot of brilliant minds out there who’ve lost their jobs due to the recession and can contribute real solutions to our problems than distractions in the form of wacky, witless entertainment.

Truly, Eldridge Cleaver is right when he said, “You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem.”