ILOILO CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) credited electronic commerce (e-commerce) for keeping afloat the micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) of Western Visayas region during the pandemic.
“The online selling sustained the MSMEs,” said DTI-6 Regional Director Rebecca Rascon at the March 2 opening of the Bagsakan: The Panubli-on Trade Fair at Robinsons Place Iloilo.
MSMEs in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces, as well as in the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod, were able to sustain their businesses despite the setback posed by COVID-19.
“We have a strong domestic market and the products in the region are being patronized,” Rascon told Manila Bulletin.
While MSMEs in Western Visayas are gradually embracing e-commerce, there are still challenges in the selling and buying aspects.
“For instance, the MSMEs in far-flung areas still cannot directly connect with the buyer. That’s where DTI steps in and facilitates,” Rascon said.
Aside from facilitating these transactions, the DTI has also been giving technical assistance to MSMEs with trainings to boost the use of digital platforms, especially social media.
This year’s Panubl-ion is a trade fair where products such as food, fabric, clothing, fashion accessories, and decors are also being sold online.
The trade fair with 76 MSMEs participating from around the region will run until March 6.