"They are just making ends meet."
"They are just making ends meet."
Now, online-selling is increasingly becoming a distinct industry of its own such that it has caught the attention of the Department of Finance (DOF) officials.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez disclosed that they are looking into proposals to tax online shopping sites, such as video and music streaming, as well as advertisements on social media.
The DOF officials now want all online sellers to register and pay sales tax through the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap expressed strong opposition to the DOF plan, saying it is insensitive to the plight of poor people who somehow figured out a way to earn some money during the crisis.
Most online sellers who use Facebook to advertise their stuff are not much different from the sidewalk vendors who barely earn the daily minimum wage.
Among them are your usual carinderia operators who have turned to online selling and food delivery during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Congressman Yap said the government, in fact, should find a way to extend financial assistance to help these micro and small-scale entrepreneurs make their online business grow.
"These people show the Filipino resiliency through hardships and crisis like this. They are creative and determined enough to make some money instead of depending on some government dole," Yap said.
Not quite a few enterprising Filipinos, young and old, have resorted to online selling to shell out a few pesos and make both ends meet during this time of economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Finding themselves in the predicament of having no income since the declaration of the state of public health emergency in March, these self-styled businessmen and businesswomen saw the opportunity of using the internet or social media to earn some profit.
There are those who lost their jobs because their employers, mostly micro and small businesses, had to shut down because of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Now, there are all sorts of online-sellers offering everything and anything one can think of.
One photographer I know has been selling chicharones, bucheron, and mushroom chicharon which he advertises on Instagram. So, while he used to post his artistic, awesome photographs of nature, he now posts the photographs of his chicharones.
He started in April with a few bags that he can carry on his foldable bicycle. His products have become so popular in his neighborhood and among his friends that his small business is actually booming. Truly enterprising.
There are also those who sell “designer facemasks” and wacky face shields.
Since restaurants and fast-foods were prohibited from serving dine-in customers, many found themselves selling packed meals and delicacies online.
Food products, beauty products, and clothing items are now commonly sold and promoted through Facebook and Instagram.
Online sellers have also made use of email, Messenger and Viber to offer their items.
Congressman Yap said it is not just morally right for the government to aggravate online sellers who merely wanted to make up for the loss they incurred during the pandemic crisis.
Leave them alone for now.