Vice President Leni Robredo has launched an online portal for small Filipino entrepreneurs to help them start their own business and expand them in the digital marketplace.
In a Facebook post, Robredo announced the launch of the online platform called Bayanihan Mart, where small entrepreneurs can market their products online and reach more customers during the coronavirus pandemic.
“This is another initiative under bayanihanapbuhay, where we aim to help budding entrepreneurs build an online presence – so important now in the new normal,” she said.
The vice president said interested entrepreneurs may go directly to the website iskaparate.com, or email at [email protected].
Many businesses had to stop its operations, with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) the hardest hit, since March when the government imposed lockdowns to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Robredo’s office initiated various programs such as the “bayanihanapbuhay,” a play on the Filipino words for community spirit and livelihood that aims to provide more job opportunities to displaced Filipino workers.
The available jobs are posted by various companies on Sikap.PH, a website built by tech company Elevatech Solutions.
The main target of this job-seeking site are those laid off from work, blue-collar workers, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) forced to leave their jobs abroad due to the pandemic.
To date, there are over 8,000 job vacancies posted by 81 partner-employers of Robredo’s office on the website.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) is also looking for partners that can provide training and technical assistance for job applicants for the next phase of the program.