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| MSME owners from different parts of Laguna take a look at the products showcased at the PLDT-Smart eBiz Buy Local Bazaar during the province's first MSME Summit. (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications Inc.) |
PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), together with TikTok Philippines, recently joined the Provincial Government of Laguna, Laguna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Office of Laguna, and Enchanted Kingdom in the first-ever province-wide summit for Micro-, Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). This platform has enabled attendees and partners to collaborate and access learning opportunities on market reach, e-commerce, and financial technology.
The PLDT Group showcased its ‘eBiz Buy Local Bazaar’ on TikTok Shop initiative, a digital upskilling-to-e-commerce program designed to equip local business owners with the right digital tools to enhance their online business expansion. Speaking before an audience of over 500 local entrepreneurs at the Laguna MSME Summit, PLDT Enterprise Customer Relationship Management Head for Small Businesses Euan Rex Toralballa underscored the commitment of PLDT and Smart to boost livelihood opportunities through technology. “Part of the PLDT Group’s thrust is digital inclusion and we want to help as many local businesses as possible thrive through technology. With our joint efforts with TikTok Philippines and our partners from the public and private sector, we will continue to find avenues to uplift local MSMEs through livelihood opportunities,” he said. “We at PLDT and Smart continuously explore inclusive and sustainable tech-enabled tools. We believe that technology can help boost efficiency and productivity that can expand livelihood opportunities for MSMEs,” added PLDT and Smart Assistant Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Management Stephanie Orlino.
“Our partnership with the government and private sector including PLDT, Smart, and TiKTok Shop can help Laguna MSMEs grow their business and expand their market reach. With the advent of technology, the possibilities are limitless. Through capacity development, we can assist local enterprises take advantage of the digital tools available so they can quickly get their products out there,” said LCCI President Atty. Rose-Lyn Coloma. “We offer our organic and homemade products at pop-up bazaars, in our partner cafes, and our own website. While we have our e-commerce platforms all set up, we still want to learn more on how to utilize these tools efficiently through PLDT and Smart’s eBiz Bazaar. I have seen how technology can help local MSMEs expand their market reach and eventually increase profits over time,” said Pauline Gonzales-Pocsedio, owner of Laguna-based social enterprise Handmade and Homemade (H+H).
PLDT and Smart’s push to provide communication and connectivity for all to benefit local businesses underscores the Group’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. This also highlights the PLDT Group’s support for the government’s Go Digital Pilipinas Movement as a founding member of the Digital Infrastructure pillar of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) which aims to uplift the lives of Filipinos through adoption of digital services.
