The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is deepening its partnership with Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) to widen financing options for small businesses and electric vehicles (EVs), while pushing digital tools to bring government services closer to entrepreneurs nationwide.
At the ceremonial signing of the DTI-PVB memorandum of understanding, Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said financing must be paired with digitalization, mentoring and market access to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) expand.
“We must be aggressive now and use the digital space. Because this is, to be honest, the fastest way for us to sell our products,” Roque said.
She said the upgraded Negosyo Center 2.0 online portal would allow entrepreneurs to access government assistance without spending an entire workday traveling to government offices.
DTI plans to tap its 18 regional offices and nationwide network of Negosyo Centers to encourage more businesses to adopt digital platforms and e-commerce.
Roque said access to capital alone would not ensure business growth unless entrepreneurs could successfully bring their products to market.
“Products remain as products, but we must sell those products to be able to generate income,” she said.
She also urged smaller businesses that are not yet ready to export to join the supply chains of established exporters, particularly in agriculture, as a stepping stone toward entering international markets.
The DTI-PVB partnership comes as the government seeks to expand access to capital while supporting the country’s shift toward electric mobility.
Roque urged entrepreneurs to make fuller use of government programs, saying digitalization, financing and market access need to work together to help local businesses scale.
