Farmers and fisherfolk in Santa Cruz, Laguna are taking steps toward digital entrepreneurship through a training session led by the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the Joint Programme on Inclusive, Competitive, and Responsible Digital Philippines (Digital-PINAS), supported by PLDT and Smart via its #KonektedForLivelihoods initiative.
In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)–Laguna and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Santa Cruz, the session gathered local agri and aqua-based communities for hands-on workshops on e-commerce operations, digital marketing, mobile photography, and online selling strategies. The goal is to help participants build practical skills to grow their livelihoods in the digital economy.
Building Digital Access at the Grassroots
PLDT and Smart AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement Stephanie V. Orlino emphasized the importance of inclusion in digital transformation.
“When farmers and fisherfolk gain access to practical digital skills, they are better able to promote their products, reach customers, and create new opportunities for their livelihoods,” she said.
As part of the program, PLDT and Smart conducted a session on smartphone-based product photography and provided Smart Prepaid Pocket WiFi units and load cards to support connectivity during training.
Santa Cruz local government representative Maria Charisma Bea Agarao highlighted how digital tools are helping small producers adapt to changing market trends, ensuring they are not left behind in the shift to online commerce.
Empowering Farmers as Digital Entrepreneurs
Participants shared how the training opened new opportunities for their organizations.
Queen G. Anino, secretary of the Coalition Alliance of Farmers in Santa Cruz, said the session was timely as their group begins building its online presence for Cabisera Rice.
“This is very useful for us who are just starting with marketing strategies,” she said, adding that the training marks a shift from being “magsasaka lang” to “negosyanteng magsasaka.”
Another participant, Marceliano Salvador, noted that the workshop on logo creation and product photography helped him better understand how to start and promote a business, which he plans to share with fellow farmers.
Strengthening Inclusive Digital Growth
Digital-PINAS Lead Digital Expert Lorna Bondoc from ITC Philippines stressed that the program aims to ensure no farmer or agri-entrepreneur is left behind in the digital shift.
By equipping MSMEs with accessible digital tools and training, the initiative seeks to expand market access and strengthen rural livelihoods.
Digital-PINAS is funded by the UN SDG Fund with support from the European Union and implemented by ITC, ILO, and UNDP, in collaboration with government agencies led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). PLDT and Smart serve as its sole telecommunications partner in community rollouts.
The Santa Cruz session is part of the broader nationwide effort to bring digital inclusion and entrepreneurship training directly to local communities.
