PLDT, Smart bring technopreneuship to more MSMEs in Mindanao with DTI, Shopee

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) led a multi-sectoral learning caravan in Region 10, sustaining community technopreneurship for MSMEs in Northern Mindanao.

The PLDT Group, along with Shopee Philippines, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10, recently concluded the second leg of its community technopreneurship training for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises based in the region.

“As the Philippines continues its economic recovery, PLDT and Smart value this opportunity to collaborate with likeminded organizations and stakeholders like Shopee and DTI that advocate for the use of technology to help boost the income of small businesses and drive communities to progress,” said Judee Chaves, Mindanao Relations Head of the Stakeholder Management Team at PLDT and Smart.

The Mindanao run of “Pilipinas: Aahon at Babangon, Ace your E-Commerce Game!”, a learning caravan on harnessing technology for business, aims to assist participating MSMEs level up their entrepreneurial game using available and accessible digital tools.

Among the topics highlighted in the learning session were mobile photography for selling and promoting products, as well as ways to grow their online business through Shopee’s e-commerce ecosystem.

Since the pandemic, local enterprises, both small and large, have embraced digitalization and learned to adapt to going online to continue doing business in the comfort of their homes.

“During the pandemic, we started utilizing digital platforms to market our products. Participating in this training would help level up our digital literacy that would allow us to become more competitive with other shops or brands in terms of awareness, publicity, and influence at very minimal cost,” said 55-year-old Nenette Tan, Owner and Founder of Bestfriend Goodies. “I learned so much from this training which has taught me simple yet effective ways of taking photos of our products, that we can then use to help boost our business online. I am thankful to PLDT, Smart, Shopee, and DTI for this opportunity.”  

This initiative is championed under PLDT and Smart’s ‘eBizNovation’, a digital skilling-to-e-commerce program for MSMEs and cooperatives to help expand their market reach and boost their income.

PLDT and Smart underscore the value of boosting businesses and industries, including MSMEs, through technology. This is part of the group’s wider commitment towards building a smarter and more resilient Philippines to help mitigate economic risks due to the pandemic. This is also aligned with the UNSDG #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.