‘Blue Flag’ lorries to hit city streets

The Commerce Ministry will begin the third phase of its low-priced consumer goods distribution programme tomorrow, in which 300 lorries laden with goods for purchase will be dispatched to communities in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces.

The programme, dubbed “Thong Fa Su Phai Covid-19” (Blue Flag Against Covid-19), began in late March with over a hundred lorries dispatched to local communities around the capital, said commerce permanent secretary, Boonyarit Kalayanamit.

The project is aimed at easing consumers’ financial burdens during the outbreak, he said.

In addition to the low-priced goods distribution programme, the ministry launched an associated programme called “Commerce Discounts for the People” on April 16, in which 72 products made by 31 businesses are sold at discounted prices, said Mr Boonyarit.

In the second phase of the Blue Flag programme that began on April 25, the number of businesses offering discounts to consumers rose to 51 and the number of items sold at discounted prices grew to 3,025, he said.

In the third phase, 7-Eleven will offer six popular frozen meals at 20 baht each, down from between 30-32 baht, he said.

He added that Saha Pathanapibul Plc, the manufacturer of Mama cup noodles, has agreed to join and sell its cup noodles at 10 baht per cup, down from 13 baht per cup.

In related news, Mr Boonyarit said the Office of Farmer’s Reconstruction and Development Fund had agreed in principle on the ministry’s proposal to suspend debt repayments for farmers during the outbreak, which will require about 900 million baht in funding.

The prices of rice, cassava, rubber and corn have recently improved, but palm prices remain low as it is the main ingredient in bio-diesel production, which has also been hit by low demand, he said.