'Tawad' in your cart: The Filipino art of haggling goes digital

As Filipinos evolve alongside technology, the marketplace tradition once reserved for the hustle and bustle of wet markets is finding new life in the digital realm.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

The art of “tawad” or haggling is seen growing in the world of online shopping, yet its brushstroke still paints the same picture—to tame the bite of rising grocery prices.

Looking at the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), consumer price increases have eased last month, with headline inflation dropping to 0.9 percent from 1.4 percent in June. The price of rice fell by 15.9 percent, the steepest drop for the staple since 1995.

While numbers tell a story of historic relief for consumers, the voices in wet markets across the country hum a different tune.

A July survey by prominent polling body Pulse Asia found that 62 percent of Filipinos are most concerned about the rising cost of basic goods and commodities.

Easing inflation was deemed the most urgent national concern, edging out the call for higher wages, creating more jobs, and fighting corruption, among other issues.

This economic climate among Filipinos, especially with its burgeoning middle class, has triggered significant behavioral changes in how households spend.

With a tight budget, many are now prioritizing value in buying everyday goods, becoming more intentional before making purchases.