PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. expand the reach of business owners in the municipality of Tanauan in Batangas by helping them adopt digital innovations. Through an event organized by PLDT Enterprise to support the growth of micro-, small-, medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), at least 150 entrepreneurs—members of the Tanauan Muslim Community Association—were introduced to e-commerce platforms under the PLDT Group’s eBizNovation program.

“PLDT and Smart leverage on technology to help boost the income of MSMEs. Online platforms open bigger opportunities to scale-up their operations and help create future-ready businesses,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.

E-commerce platforms connect Filipino MSMEs with a broader market and expand their presence from offline to online communities. Through PLDT and Smart's eBizNovation program and with support of their partners, local shop owners from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao gain direct access to consumers and expand their revenue opportunities by onboarding them on e-commerce platforms.

PLDT and Smart also helped the participating entrepreneurs to #BeCyberSmart to further build their business' resilience. The PLDT Group shared tips on identifying phishing, the most common form of cyberattack, summed up in the acronym “SCAM”.

S stands for ‘Sender is unknown’. Never answer calls or respond to messages from unknown persons or entities, especially those asking for one-time passwords or OTPs. Official bank and Smart agents will never ask for your OTP.

C stands for ‘Compelling reason to act immediately’. Scam texts often urge you to click the link to avoid account suspension or to avail of the limited-time offer.

A stands for ‘Attention grabbing offers’. Potential victims are often baited with too-good-to-be true promos or prize winnings.

M stands for ‘Malicious link’. Whether sent via SMS or email, these messages are often accompanied by a link that leads to a phishing website.

The PLDT Group continuously finds ways to promote inclusive technologies that can help boost livelihood opportunities among MSMEs, cooperatives, farmers, and fisherfolk, leaving no one behind. The #eBizNovation program also highlights the PLDT Group’s support to the government’s Go Digital Pilipinas Movement, which seeks to uplift the lives of Filipinos through adoption of digital services, while the group’s efforts to drive relevant cybersecurity information on scams and fraud are fundamental to its much broader program to elevate the quality of customer experience by protecting them from threats and attacks.