PLDT and Smart sustain livelihood opportunities for farmers and micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with the help of technology, through collaborations with various partners.
At a recent knowledge session organized by Agri-Business and Countryside Development Foundation, Inc. (ABCD Foundation) in partnership with Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), PLDT and Smart stakeholder management head Stephanie V. Orlino highlighted the group's FarmSmart and eBizNovation programs, which are designed to empower farmers and MSMEs.
"We partner with government agencies, local government units, nonprofits, other private companies and the local communities. Each partner brings to the table their own expertise and perspectives that ensure the program's success and sustainability. We believe that collaboration with like-minded individuals and organizations with shared goals and strengths lead to successful shared value programs," said Orlino.
The online session was attended by leaders, representatives, and consultants for farmer and fisherfolk groups and agriculture-related businesses; top-level executives from various businesses and nongovernment and nonprofit organizations; and policy advisers to the government.
PLDT and Smart's Digital Farmers Program (DFP), which is under the group's FarmSmart initiative, helps usher smallholder farmers to the digital economy through the provision of access to technology, digital skills trainings, and digital agriculture services. DFP is a collaboration with the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI).
eBizNovation, meanwhile, empowers MSMEs with digital marketing skills and onboards them to e-commerce, helping turn them into online merchants. PLDT and Smart have partnered with TikTok Shop and other e-commerce platforms for this program.
"Thank you PLDT and Smart for sharing with us your programs to bring farmers into the digital age by educating them about the tools that are available at their disposal, to increase their access to knowledge or to give them the opportunity to improve their agri-business development," said Julius Barcelona, ABCD Foundation president.
PLDT and Smart's participation in discussions with relevant stakeholders reinforce the group's commitment to help in nation-building through partnerships. This initiative also supports the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
