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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider PLDT Home expands AI training and fiber connectivity for Filipina-led businesses

PLDT Home expands AI training and fiber connectivity for Filipina-led businesses

Published Mar 10, 2026 08:33 am
PLDT Home is deepening its investment in artificial intelligence education and digital infrastructure for women entrepreneurs in the Philippines this Women's Month, as data shows Filipinas now own the majority of small and medium enterprises in the country.
According to the Philippine Commission on Women, women own 66 percent of SMEs in the Philippines and lead 62 percent of newly registered businesses, a demographic shift that has accelerated since the pandemic pushed micro-businesses onto digital platforms.
Ermelita Valdeavilla, chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women, at the 2024 Gawad Madiskarte Awards Ceremony
Ermelita Valdeavilla, chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women, at the 2024 Gawad Madiskarte Awards Ceremony
"Women entrepreneurs today are operating at the forefront of digital transformation," said Menardo "Butch" Jimenez, Jr., chief operating officer and chief technology officer of PLDT. "Our goal is to ensure they have the connectivity, tools and AI capabilities that allow them not only to keep up, but to lead. Connectivity is now the backbone of innovation and inclusion."
Menardo
Menardo "Butch" Jimenez, Jr., chief operating officer and chief technology officer of PLDT
PLDT Home provides high-speed fiber broadband that underpins a range of digital business functions including livestream commerce, cloud-based order management, digital payment processing, and AI-assisted customer service. The company positions its infrastructure as a core enabler for women-led businesses competing in an increasingly digital marketplace.
Central to that positioning is Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH), a PLDT Home-supported online community that has grown to more than 225,000 members nationwide. The group, which began as a small peer network, has become one of the Philippines' largest digital hubs for women entrepreneurs.
Building on a previous collaboration with Google Philippines, PLDT Home will relaunch the Gemini Academy for the MMPH community. The updated program will offer advanced modules covering workflow automation, data-driven decision-making, predictive analytics, and responsible AI integration — reflecting the rapid evolution of AI tools available to small business owners.
On March 28, 2026, PLDT Home will also host the 4th Gawad Madiskarte Awards, recognizing women who have built technology-enabled, sustainability-focused enterprises with measurable community impact.
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