Leyte, Philippines – Dino Mirafuentes runs a small organic farm in Ormoc City, Leyte, where he grows chickens for eggs, meat rabbits, and grows vegetables using black soldier fly larvae as natural fertilizer. But when the 28-year-old farmer entrepreneur posts on Facebook about his farm, he no longer worries about typos. He uses generative AI to hone his social media content and design labels for his products that look professional.
“When I made the post, I was conscious of spelling and grammar,” says Mirafuentes, who runs an integrated organic farm. “So why not use resources that will help my business? With AI tools, I feel more confident in my output.”
As more Filipino entrepreneurs shift online, PLDT Enterprise and Smart Communications, Inc. The comprehensive eBizNovation effort has proven important for small businesses across Visayas.
“These initiatives represent our commitment to ensuring that all Filipino entrepreneurs have access to the digital tools and knowledge needed to compete in today’s economy. Partnerships with DTI and other institutions have allowed us to reach over 200 small businesses across Visayas, but more importantly, the advocacy of trained ventilation and training entrances, says that the ordinary community is working with Entapuri, who is training in the head of Visayas and Mindanao.
Tech Connect: MSME Power Up programme Eastern Visayas from Cebu shops and ship caravans, these strategic partnerships with government agencies and tech companies come at a pivotal moment when small businesses need knowledge and confidence to not only utilize digital tools for growth, but also small businesses need internet connectivity.
Digital Training in Cebu
Over 90 small businesses participated in the shop and ship caravan owned by Tiktok Shop Philippines, J&T Express, DTI Cebu Province and PLDT Enterprise and Smart. The program focused on enhancing digital literacy and online sales, providing entrepreneurs with practical skills to navigate online markets.
“It’s extremely important to keep up with today’s digitalization. As a business owner, I’m really grateful for this type of activity,” said Mil Dim Dimansillo-Alcuitas of Carcar City. “These practical tips and strategies for using AI tools to sell products and increase their online presence are especially useful for startups and small businesses.”
The momentum continued in Toledo. There, over 30 MSMEs learned from MSME digitalised caravans powered by PLDT Enterprise, Smart and Maya Philippines Inc., addressing key areas such as AI tool integration, cybersecurity practices, and digital payment solutions.
Bring AI training to rural communities
This impact expanded east through the 3-leg digital upskill series “Tech Connect: MSME Power Up,” hosted by PLDT Enterprise and Smart, in collaboration with DTI Leyte and DTI Southern Leyte. Over 100 MSMEs from Ormoc City, Sogod and Maasin City have discovered how AI can streamline operations, from social media marketing to content creation.
For mirafuentes, whose farms are recognized for dti with full business registration, training examined the instinctive adoption of digital tools. “I was too conscious when I created a post using a generator AI tool before training,” he explains. “This training has made me realize that it’s okay to use AI as long as it’s used correctly.”
This comprehensive approach, combining AI literacy, cybersecurity awareness, e-commerce skills and digital payment systems, addresses all the challenges faced by SMEs today. As participants gain confidence in using these tools, they can become advocates and teachers within the community, transfer knowledge and mature more people.
PLDT and Smart’s Digital Upskills Initiative will directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG No. 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses and enabling them to participate in the digital economy.
About pldt
PLDT is the largest fully integrated telephone company in the Philippines. From fixed lines to wireless, PLDT provides a wide range of communication and digital services across the Philippines’ widest fiber optic backbone, providing fixed lines and cellular networks.
PLDT is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE: TEL), and its American depositary stocks are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PHI). PLDT is one of the largest market capitalizations among the Philippines. It is a listed company.
For more information, visit www.pldt.com
About Smart Communication
Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) is PLDT, Inc., the largest and only integrated telecommunications company in the Philippines. is a wholly owned wireless communications and digital services subsidiary of. Smart will serve approximately 96% of the country’s cities and municipalities combined with 2G, 3G, 4G LTE and 5G networks, providing mobile communication services, high-speed internet connectivity and access to over 62.9 million Filipinos in June 2023, supporting the country’s growing digital economy and increasingly providing a lifetime digital Filipino experience.
