PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) supported the first-ever digitalization caravan of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu Province, empowering local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Aiming to help boost the province's economy, PLDT and Smart supported DTI in bringing digital transformation to eight municipalities and cities in Cebu province. These include Cebu, Bogo, Danao and Carcar, and the municipalities of Dalaguete, Balamban, Consolacion, and Alegria. The digitalization caravan is DTI Cebu’s comprehensive initiative designed to equip MSMEs with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital landscape.

“We are proud to collaborate with DTI Cebu Province to drive the digital transformation of local MSMEs. By combining our technological capabilities with DTI’s dedication to economic development, we are committed to empower businesses to thrive by embracing the advanced digital and e-commerce platforms,” said Jinky Q. Francisco Head of PLDT SMBiz Visayas.

The Digitalization caravan offered a series of talks on the internet’s power to enhance business operations, utilization of social media platforms for marketing, enabling businesses to boost their visibility, engage with customers, and drive sales.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our distinguished speakers and experts who generously shared their knowledge and experiences. To PLDT and Smart, who covered useful topics, from maximizing social media presence to tips on how to capture product photos for social media--your insights have been instrumental in helping our MSMEs grasp the complexities of the digital world,” said Ms. Marivic Aguilar, DTI Cebu Chief of the SME Development Division (SDD) during the concluding session of the caravan.

This support for DTI Cebu is part of PLDT and Smart’s “eBizNovation” program which aims to boost the income and market reach of MSMEs, cooperatives, and other industries through technology. This also forms part of the group’s wider effort to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

This is also aligned with the PLDT Group's commitment as one of the founding members of the government-mandated Presidential Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) under the Digital Infrastructure Pillar to support the Government's nationwide digitalization thrust.