Over 100 Maranao entrepreneurs participated in a training program by PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc., in partnership with the provincial government of Lanao del Sur, to enhance their e-commerce skills and promote their businesses. The initiative is part of PLDT and Smart’s eBizNovation program, aiming to improve livelihood opportunities for MSMEs and cooperatives.
“We have been partnering with the local government of Lanao del Sur for several years now, and we at PLDT and Smart are quite happy to work with like-minded organizations whose goals are aligned with ours. We will continue to create and implement more programs to help bring the Maranao people into the digital economy,” said Judee D. Chaves, Mindanao Relations Head at PLDT and Smart.
In Lanao del Sur, the eBizNovation program has become an avenue for women-led enterprises to upskill and improve their businesses. Asia Dimaocom, chairman of Pinduguan Farm Producer Cooperative, is among the program’s repeat participants. Having learned the basics of social media marketing during PLDT and Smart’s first training program in 2022, Dimaocom has further expanded her skills with the latest training and can now create content and use online platforms.
“These days, e-commerce is the way to go, but here in the province, it is not yet widely used. With this training, we want to introduce this platform to our Maranao entrepreneurs and enhance their skills so that they can reach more markets nationwide,” said Provincial Cooperative Officer Ashadie Alonto.
PLDT and Smart’s eBizNovation program aims to leverage digital technologies to develop and improve the lives and livelihoods of communities across the country. These efforts are part of the group’s commitment to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 5: Gender Equality, and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
“I am thankful to have participated in PLDT and Smart’s training program for the second time because using an e-commerce platform would have been difficult for me without the lessons on creating content,” she said.
