Over 200 Visayas Entrepreneurs Transform Businesses with AI

Dino Mirafuentes runs a small organic farm in Ormoc City, Leyte, where he raises chickens for eggs, rabbits for meat, and grows vegetables using black soldier fly larvae as natural fertilizer. But when the 28-year-old farmer-entrepreneur posts about his farm on Facebook, he doesn't worry about typos anymore. He uses generative AI to polish his social media content and to design professional-looking labels for his products.

 

"I was conscious about spelling errors and grammar when making posts," shares Mirafuentes, who runs an integrated organic farm. "So why not use the resources that are available that can help my business? With AI tools, I'm more confident in my output."

As more Filipino entrepreneurs shift online, PLDT Enterprise and Smart Communications, Inc.’s comprehensive Ebiznovation efforts are proving crucial for small businesses across the Visayas.

 

"These initiatives represent our commitment to ensuring that every Filipino entrepreneur has access to the digital tools and knowledge they need to compete in today's economy. Our partnerships with DTI and other agencies have allowed us to reach over 200 small businesses across the Visayas, but more importantly, we're creating a multiplier effect where trained entrepreneurs become advocates in their own communities,” said Jinky Francisco, PLDT Enterprise SMBiz Visayas and Mindanao Head.

 

From the Shop and Ship Caravan in Cebu to the Tech Connect: MSME Power Up programs organized by PLDT Enterprise in Eastern Visayas, these strategic partnerships with government agencies and tech companies come at a pivotal moment when small businesses need not just internet connectivity, but the knowledge and confidence to leverage digital tools for growth.

 

Digital Training Across Cebu Province

 

Over 90 small businesses participated in the Shop and Ship Caravan held by TikTok Shop Philippines, J&T Express, DTI Cebu Province, PLDT Enterprise and Smart. The program focused on enhancing digital literacy and online selling, providing entrepreneurs with practical skills to navigate online marketplaces.

 

"It's so important to keep up with digitalization today, and as a business owner, I really appreciate this kind of activity," said Milody Dimansillo-Alcuitas, owner of Mil Dim Handcrafted Creations in Carcar City. "These practical tips and strategies for using AI tools to market our products and grow our presence online are especially helpful for start-ups or for small businesses."

 

The momentum continued in Toledo City, where over 30 MSMEs learned from the MSME Digitalization Caravan organized by DTI Cebu and powered by PLDT Enterprise, Smart and Maya Philippines Inc., which addressed critical areas including AI tool integration, cybersecurity practices, and digital payment solutions.

 

Bringing AI Training to Rural Communities

 

The impact expanded eastward through "Tech Connect: MSME Power Up," a three-leg digital upskilling series organized by PLDT Enterprise and Smart in partnership with DTI Leyte and DTI Southern Leyte. Over 100 MSMEs from Ormoc City, Sogod, and Maasin City discovered how AI could streamline their operations, from social media marketing to content creation.

 

For Mirafuentes, whose farm is DTI-accredited with complete business registrations, the training validated his instinctive adoption of digital tools. "Before the training, I was too conscious when I made posts using generative AI tools,” he explains. "With this training, I was enlightened that it's okay to use AI as long as it is used correctly."

 

This comprehensive approach, combining AI literacy, cybersecurity awareness, e-commerce skills, and digital payment systems, addresses the full spectrum of challenges facing small businesses today. As participants gain confidence in using these tools, they become advocates and teachers within their communities, who are able to transfer the knowledge and upskill even more people.

 

PLDT and Smart’s digital upskilling initiatives directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG No. 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for small businesses and enabling them to participate in the digital economy. 

This Multinational Company Transformed Plastic Waste Into an Eco-Friendly Health Center

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines, the leading consumer goods manufacturer of health and hygiene products, has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Philippines to construct an eco-friendly community health center and birthing clinic in Pastrana, Leyte. Notably, the facility is mostly built from recycled plastic waste, marking a significant stride towards sustainability.

Community Partnerships in Pastrana, Leyte

Situated amidst rice fields and coconut plantations, Pastrana is experiencing a noteworthy transformation in healthcare and sanitation. With support from the private sector and NGO partners, the municipality is actively embracing sustainable development, and the health center is a tangible expression of this collective commitment.

Since 2017, P&G has partnered with Habitat Philippines in building sustainable communities. The strong partnership has been instrumental in facilitating P&G’s meaningful community intervention in Leyte - the successful construction of this health center, which aims to make essential healthcare services more accessible to low-income families.

In August 2023, a local project management team, comprising community members, barangay leaders, the local government of Pastrana, and the regional Department of Health (DOH) representatives came together to ensure that the health center would not only meet but exceed DOH standards for healthcare facilities. This eco-friendly health center project will serve approximately 1,100 individuals, catering to their basic healthcare needs and giving access to proper pre and post-natal care for mothers.

Innovative Construction: The Science behind the Health Center 

At the core of this health center is an innovative and sustainable approach— the use of eco-casts. Manufactured from single-use plastics collected by the Habitat community in Kawayanville, Tacloban City, these recycled materials were used in the health center's construction.

The process involves shredding plastic waste and combining it with aggregates, including sand, gravel, cement, additives, and water. The mixture is then pressed and molded using a specialized machine, followed by a seven-day drying and curing process.

Particularly, the eco-cast outperforms concrete hollow blocks in quality, providing higher thermal insulation and exceptional fire resistance (179 minutes or 3 hours). It is more compact and sturdier, with a strength recording of 700 psi, more than 4 times higher than the 150 psi of hollow blocks, ensuring a robust building.

Sustaining Long-Term Health Impact

Habitat for Humanity Philippines' current focus is on sustaining the health center's functionality. In collaboration with the local government unit of Pastrana and the regional DOH office, it provided Basic Health Training for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), empowering them to independently maintain the health center.

Marilyn Estrellado, Programs and Operations Director of Habitat for Humanity Philippines shared, “The trained BHWs from the community will help man the facility, augmenting the capacity of health professionals provided by the LGU and DOH. We also appreciate Pastrana LGU and the DOH’s commitment to providing constant medical supplies, manpower, and proper maintenance of the health center to ensure improved access to quality health care and services for the community members in need.” 

P&G has been committed to being a Force for Growth and a Force for Good in the communities it operates in. In April 2021, P&G built its first health center in partnership with Habitat Philippines in Marilog, Davao to improve the lives of nearly 2,000 individuals in Barangay Baganihan by implementing a comprehensive health and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) program. Looking ahead to 2024, another eco-friendly health center is planned for Sterling Park, Caloocan, Metro Manila, with a focus on aiding 1,500 individuals from informal settlements. 

XTREME Appliances Opens its 25th Concept Store

Manila, Philippines (May 24, 2021) — XTREME Appliances, the country’s leading one-stop shop home appliances brand, recently opened its 25th concept store in Tacloban, Leyte last May 13, 2021. The said grand opening, located at Justice Romualdo St. across Gaisano Central Mall, was jam-packed with customers who wanted to have first dibs on the affordable yet quality home appliances.

In line with the grand opening, XTREME Appliances - Tacloban City offered their PISO Sale to customers who came in early. The opening day became a total blockbuster as customers took time to visit to look for home appliances that they need for their homes.

Despite the influx of customers, the management made sure to strictly implement safety health protocols. Staff and customers maintained proper social distancing and wore face masks and face shields inside the store.

XTREME Appliances - Tacloban City branch is one of the biggest concept stores yet as it offers almost all the products under the three categories — XTREME, XTREME Cool, and XTREME Home.

Watch the full video here: 

https://www.facebook.com/571281989693164/videos/203476244923996

This 2021, XTREME Appliances is aiming to launch a total of 100 concept stores nationwide, bringing a wide range of appliances near every customer’s home across the country.
Take a look at some of the newly-opened XTREME Appliances concept stores nationwide.

To keep updated on the latest news and happenings of XTREME Appliances, like and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok accounts and join their official online community on Facebook, XTREME Fam. For the full list of products and exclusive discounts, please visit XTREME on Website, Lazada, and Shopee e-commerce.


About XTREME Appliances

XTREME Appliances is a #OneStopShopAppliances brand that offers premium and affordable home and commercial appliances that ranges from TV, Aircon, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Gas Range, and many more. XTREME Appliances is now available in 3,000 stores and business partners nationwide, including online stores like Lazada and Shopee.

Jacobs Engineering donates $10,000 to KEITECH

Jacobs Engineering has donated USD10,000 to KEITECH Educational Foundation to help fund its student-trainees’ tuition and fees. KEITECH is a technical-vocational school established in 2009 by geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in partnership with the local government of Kananga in Leyte and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). It aims to address the high poverty incidence and unemployment rate in the municipality by enabling qualified youth to acquire top skills that are locally and globally in-demand. 

Jacobs Engineering previously played a pivotal role in helping EDC restore and build a better facility when the geothermal company’s Mahanagdong B power plant in Leyte was badly hit by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake in 2017. “The successful Mahanagdong project delivery was underpinned by the positive working relationship between the two companies with shared safety and sustainability values and a commitment to work towards a zero-carbon future. We are pleased to partner with EDC, which is one of the world leaders in geothermal energy,” said Aaron Hochwimmer, Jacobs Engineering’s Director of Operations–Power.

“Our team was delighted to recognize KEITECH and to leave an enduring legacy with the community. The fundamental lessons on values that KEITECH teaches are also fundamentals for us in Jacobs and we think that they were instrumental to the success of our project with EDC,” he added.

KEITECH’s 10-month training program is tailor-fit to the most in-demand jobs today in construction, metals and engineering, and hotel and restaurant services. Each KEITECH student receives a full scholarship including uniforms, shoes, safety gears, and school supplies, and is given accommodations and meals for the duration of their training. All graduates have achieved a 100% passing rate in TESDA’s National Certification exam.

“We express our deepest gratitude to Jacobs Engineering Group not only for their generous donation to KEITECH but more importantly, for being EDC’s partner that seeks to elevate its beneficiaries,” said James Arnold Villaroman, former business unit head of EDC’s Leyte Geothermal Facility and current head of the company’s Long-term Strategy Group.

“The financial assistance that Jacobs Engineering has provided to the student trainees of KEITECH is another proof of how it strives to ignite economic prosperity among impoverished communities through education, which we in EDC also believe is the greatest equalizer. As EDC and the rest of the Lopez group embark on our new chosen path of fostering collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future, we are honored to have like-minded partners like Jacobs,” Villaroman added.

EDC’s Leyte geothermal facility has been supplying power to the province of Leyte and the rest of the Visayas region for almost 40 years. The company’s over 1,205-megawatt total installed geothermal capacity accounts for 62% of the country’s generated renewable energy and is responsible for putting EDC and the Philippines on the map as the world’s third largest geothermal producer.

Celebrating Life and Rebirth for the Love of Leyte

In celebration of the rebirth of Leyte five years the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, Eastern Visayas recently witnessed For the Love of Leyte, a non-profit, benefit arts and music festival that gathered together local artists and artisans to create empowerment and change through music and arts. Organized by the Philippine Foundation, in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), One Love Festival UK and Tabo-an Ha Ginsiyaman, the two-day festival featured a one-of-a-kind musical experience featuring local and foreign artists as well as trade fairs, and a series of cultural workshops. For the Love of Leyte event also aimed to champion sustainable tourism and development, as well as reintroduce tourists to post-Yolanda Leyte. Photo shows Waray band Kulahig.