The government is implementing various programs to assist micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to expand their business to online platforms especially this time of pandemic.
In a webinar, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Asst. Secretary Mary Jean Pacheco cited the reboot program for online enterprises that include free website development, and loan packages for product development or packaging and production of products.
“The reboot program for online enterprises is really something that we could not have without the strong engagement of the private sector,” she said.
Pacheco said the program also promotes online payments like GCash and PayMaya, while it explores discounted rates for shipping/delivery costs.
She said the skills component is a big portion of the program as it provides a series of panel discussions on topics important to growing online enterprises such as how to transform business online and marketing.
“So, we are very happy because we are using this even if we cannot meet face-to-face, we believe that we are able to deal with more people and share through zoom and Facebook. Facebook is close to 1 million reach and we are getting good feedback,” she added.
Pacheco said the department’s trabaho/negosyo (jobs/business) skills pathway aims to make online businesses grow.
“We would like to really do massive upskilling on digital skills. DTI will introduce this and we are working with the TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority),” she said.
“The idea is to really have robust ecommerce so what we want at the end of the day, we have more online merchants, you have skilled workers for ecommerce companies (job-ready) and these are all high-level digital skills,” she added.
Moreover, Pacheco said the DTI is working with various partners, including Google MyBusiness.
“We are partnering with them, they have a new MSME caravan and we hope that you can use this tool,” she said, adding the caravan aims to train firms how to grow their business efficiently through a wide array of digital tools.