The pandemic has forced societal changes around the globe. It limited human interaction, encouraged people to work from home, and restricted in-person business operations. It forced everyone to rely on digital platforms labeling it as the “new normal.”

To keep pace with digitalization, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Regional Office 1 led a Virtual Seminar on Digital Payment Solution with Shopee Pay Philippines to 20 women members of Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPA) of DSWD – Field Office 1 and 24 women members of Community-Based Organizations (CBO) under Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP). The webinar’s objective is to teach the SLP women entrepreneurs the opportunities to reach a bigger market through shifting and embracing digital payment solutions. It will also link the SLPA to DTI Negosyo Center and digital payment partners.

Meanwhile, DSWD – Field Office 1 Regional Director Marie S. Gopalan expressed her excitement about the activities of DTI for women beneficiaries of the agency. “To all of the women members of our SLPAs, I wish for the success of your business venture in using this Digital Payment Solutions. I hope to see you in Shopee and buy products from your online shops,” said RD Gopalan.

Manilyn Ballesteros, Treasurer of Barong SLPA Consumers Coop from Brgy. Barong, Dingras, Ilocos Norte shared her learning from the webinar “Ang natutuhan po namin ay ang pagrehistro sa aming negosyo at pumasok bilang isang partner store ng Shopee. Napakalaking oportunidad ang ibinigay sa amin kung kayat lubos ang aming pasasalamat sa Shopee, DTI, at DSWD Nawa’y magkaroon pa ng dagdag na pagsasanay sa mga ganitong gawain upang mas lumawak ang aming pang-unawa at mapalaki namin ang aming negosyo (What we learned from the webinar was the steps on how to register our business and enter as a partner store of Shopee. This is a huge opportunity and we are very grateful to DTI, DSWD and Shopee. May there be more trainings like this so that we can broaden our understanding and grow our business).”

 

These convergence efforts of agencies allow empowering and uplifting the status of women in the region by introducing digital channels to adapt in a fast-changing world where almost everyone is shifting to e-commerce and discovering its potential to expand the reach of their enterprises. #(by: John Chris B. Zureta, Social Marketing Officer, Sustainable Livelihood Program)