DTI Moves to Aid MSMEs Start e-Commerce, Sets Up Online Store For Local Products

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be launching a new online store that will sell products from local producers.

This comes as the DTI is increasing efforts to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in jumpstarting their e-commerce experience and digital reach.

The development of the online shop, dubbed the “Philippine e-Commerce Platform” (PEP) was announced by DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual in a media roundtable on Monday.

The new platform is set to launch on July 18 and will be integrated into the Department of Information and Communications Technology superapp.

This latest development in promoting Filipino-made products also comes as showcasing of local products in the country has been gaining momentum as of late, with the Senate Bill (SB) 1594 or the OTOP bill, which seeks to institutionalize the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program, is now only awaiting the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as of mid-June.

Pascual added that around 350 MSMEs have signed up to be part of the platform and that the DTI is open to more local merchants to join and sell in PEP.

The DTI chief also said that digital payment will be accepted on the platform. (GFB)