THE country stands out in Southeast Asia with thriving e-commerce platforms, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said Wednesday at the launch of DITO’s digital platform BizBayan at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
“In fact, this is very enticing for overseas businesses to [have a presence in the Philippines] because of our strong e-commerce platform,” Roque pointed out.
She welcomed DITO’s initiatives to empower more Filipino entrepreneurs, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through innovation and digital connectivity.
MSMEs is the backbone of the economy, comprising 99.6 percent of businesses in the country, and accounting for 60 percent of the labor force, 62 percent of whom are women, Roque pointed out, adding that women wanting to earn on their own can try to get into e-commerce.
BizBayan offers scalable, cost-efficient and high-performance digital services and solutions to MSMEs, said DITO CEO Eric Alberto.
It is designed to empower businesses to transcend limitations by enabling growth.
Its Konektado Negosyo Bundle, available at a special introductory rate of P1,150 per month, provides unlimited 5G connectivity with speeds of up to 100 Mbps and an indoor CCTV unit.
For businesses with greater connectivity needs, the P1,650 monthly plan delivers unlimited 5G speeds of up to 500 mbps and an outdoor CCTV unit.
E-commerce Trustmark
Roque also discussed the Department of Trade and Industry’s E-commerce Philippine Trustmark, which legitimizes sellers and protects buyers from fraud.
Launched in July, the Trustmark is a digital badge issued by the DTI-E-commerce Bureau as a recognition for online entrepreneurs and platforms that demonstrate commitment and trustworthiness, safety and adherence to fair e-commerce practices pursuant to Republic Act 11967, or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023.
“Online business platforms or entrepreneurs with the DTI Trustmark means their products have passed the law’s requirements. We also want to create a mark that when the consumer sees it, they know it’s a legitimate business” Roque said.
She likewise talked about the DTI-GoNegosyo Kapatid Mentor Me program to further boost MSMEs through professional business advice and guidance.
In addition, Roque mentioned DTI’s non-collateral loans of up to P10 million available to MSMEs, including “one year of no payment of principal and interest to get the MSMEs going at least for the first year.”
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