MSMEs Across PH Communities Sharpen Digital Skills to Grow Their Businesses with PLDT, Smart

For Queen G. Anino, a rice producer from Santa Cruz, Laguna, learning how to market Cabisera Rice online marked an important step in growing her enterprise. A digital upskilling workshop supported by PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) helped her take the first steps toward reaching more customers.

"The training came at the right time because we are just starting to promote Cabisera Rice and are only beginning to build our social media presence," she said. "With these tools and modern methods, we are excited to become farmer-entrepreneurs who can actively market our products."

As the Philippines marked National MSME Week, Anino's story reflects the experience of many entrepreneurs supported by PLDT and Smart's digital inclusion initiatives. Through #KonektedforLivelihoods, the Group continues to help Filipino entrepreneurs build the skills and confidence to grow their businesses in an increasingly digital marketplace.

During the first half of the year, PLDT and Smart brought digital learning sessions to 21 communities nationwide, reaching 1,279 MSMEs, agripreneurs, tourism stakeholders, and livelihood beneficiaries. Conducted with partners including the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, International Trade Centre (ITC) Digital-PINAS initiative, and local government units, the workshops covered digital entrepreneurship, content creation, online marketing, and cybersecurity awareness.

"We want our farmers, fisherfolk, and small entrepreneurs to keep up with changing trends and improve their marketing and sales through digital platforms," said Maria Charisma Bea Agarao, Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Santa Cruz. The town of Santa Cruz, Laguna was one of the partner-venues of a Digital-PINAS community-based MSME workshop, held with support from sole telco partner PLDT and Smart.

In these sessions, participants also strengthened their skills in branding and product presentation. Angelica Martinez of the Rural Improvement Club Kalinga Center shared how the training helped their group move beyond word-of-mouth selling by presenting products more effectively using a mobile phone. In Los Baños, Laguna, Rafael J. Jumawid of the Los Baños Municipal Cooperative Development Council, said the smartphone photography session changed how members approached product promotion.

Tourism MSMEs also benefited through learning sessions with CAITO CALABARZON and Hospitality Alliance Group of Subic Bay Freeport. Participants said the workshops strengthened their use of Reels for marketing while raising awareness of online scams targeting travel businesses.

John Eric Alviz, Vice President and Head of SME Growth Marketing, Digital and Trade at PLDT Enterprise, said that helping MSMEs succeed requires more than access to technology. It also means equipping entrepreneurs with the skills to use digital tools for business growth. "Through our partnerships with government and industry, PLDT Enterprise continues to provide MSMEs with reliable connectivity, practical digital solutions, and learning opportunities that help them strengthen operations, reach more customers, and grow their businesses."

Stephanie V. Orlino, Assistant Vice President and Head of the Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart, said that practical digital skills can help open new opportunities for entrepreneurs when paired with strong community partnerships. "Digital skills become more meaningful when communities can immediately apply them to strengthen their livelihoods. Through partnerships with government and local organizations, we are helping entrepreneurs build the confidence to market, protect, and grow their businesses online."

Through #KonektedforLivelihoods, PLDT and Smart continue to work with government, industry, and community partners to help Filipino entrepreneurs strengthen their digital skills, expand their market reach, and create new opportunities in an increasingly connected world.

Digital-PINAS, PLDT, Smart Transform Laguna Farmers, Fisherfolk, Small Biz Owners Into Digital Entrepreneurs

Over a hundred farmers, fisherfolk, and small business owners across the province of Laguna are now ready to become digital entrepreneurs, through a training conducted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the Digital-PINAS initiative, or the Joint Programme on Inclusive, Competitive, ​and Responsible Digital Philippines​.

 

Digital-PINAS brings community-based MSME workshops to local communities, with support from sole telco partner PLDT and Smart through the group’s #KonektedforLivelihoods initiative.

 

In the workshops conducted in the towns of Santa Cruz, Pila, Victoria, and Los Baños, PLDT and Smart representatives held sessions on smartphone photography and cybersecurity awareness, to enable participants to better showcase their products online, while protecting themselves from falling victim to online scams. The Group also distributed Smart Prepaid pocket wifi units and load cards to support the sessions.

 

"True digital transformation in the countryside isn't about giving small business owners complicated software they don't need. It is about taking the fear out of technology and showing a farmer or a local food vendor that a smartphone can be a powerful tool to protect their daily harvest, reach new buyers, and secure their family's income right from their farms or kitchen tables. But without internet connectivity, bringing this digital transformation to the most in need is challenging. We are proud to count PLDT and Smart as our partner in supporting internet access during our trainings under Digital-PINAS and enhancing the connectivity of small businesses across the Philippines," said Lorna Bondoc, Lead ITC Digital Expert, Digital-PINAS.

 

“Our participation in Digital-PINAS reflects the PLDT Group's broader commitment to inclusive growth, particularly for communities that have long faced barriers to entry in the digital economy. But our role goes beyond connectivity, because these sessions are meant to give the participants both the skills and the confidence to compete as digital entrepreneurs," said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart.

 

In Santa Cruz, the logo creation and smartphone photography modules gave members of the Coalition Alliance of Farmers in Santa Cruz, Laguna the foundation to begin building their online presence. "From being ‘just farmers’, our members can now become farmer-entrepreneurs," said Queen Anino, Secretary of CAFSCL.

 

In Pila, 40 farmer-MSMEs and local business owners, including members of the Pila Laguna Agriculture Cooperative, applied smartphone photography techniques to their own products on-site.

 

In Victoria, women entrepreneurs Jennifer Soria of Momshie Jen's Bites and Filominas Espiritu of Pinky's Pasalubong learned to improve their products’ appearance on social media.

 

In Los Baños, cooperative leaders from the Municipal Cooperative Development Council and partner organizations learned the correct process of practical product photography. “This is excellent training for entrepreneurs like us," according to Rafael J. Jumawid, Vice Chairman of the council.

 

Through its #KonektedforLivelihoods, the PLDT Group partners with likeminded institutions like the ITC through initiatives like Digital-PINAS, to help advance digital entrepreneurship among MSMEs. Digital-PINAS is funded by the UN Sustainable Development Goals Fund with generous contributions from the European Union, and implemented by ITC, the International Labour Organization, and the UN Development Programme, alongside key government agencies led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology.