Aslia Ilian Dimaocom, a Meranaw entrepreneur, leads the Pindoguan Farm Producers Cooperative (PFPC) in Lanao del Sur, producing rice and Maranao delicacies for farmers, out-of-school youth, widows, and orphans. Despite facing challenges like the Marawi siege and the COVID-19 pandemic, Aslia continues to learn new skills and focus on building more opportunities for their enterprise. She attended the Smart eBizNovation program to ensure their business remains competitive.
“After the Marawi siege and the pandemic, our cooperative’s income slowly went downhill. We were not able to sell our products due to the strict security protocols and lockdowns. Despite life’s challenges, we persevered,” Aslia said. “I am very thankful that I got to participate in PLDT and Smart’s training because it has brought us a lot of help. Because of PLDT and Smart, many businesses like our coop will continue to thrive in selling online,” she added.
In collaboration with the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur, PLDT and Smart launched their first capacity-building program in Marawi City in 2022 to help cooperatives and MSMEs earn more by selling products online. This is where Aslia first learned the importance of online promotion and selling, which have since helped their coop improve their income. This year, she also joined the PLDT group’s latest training on content creation and e-commerce entrepreneurship, leveling up her skills in the online marketplace.
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.
