PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) bolster their partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), enabling ATI Davao Region’s Kalambuan sa Kaumahan Expo.
The Coconut Summit: Techno Gabay para sa mga Magniniyog, which aimed to help bring farmers into the digital economy, gathered 150 coconut farmers from across the region to explore new opportunities through e-commerce platforms and digital payments.
“This partnership is part of PLDT and Smart’s strong commitment to empower farmers through digital innovation, to help build a stronger, more inclusive economy for all Filipinos. It builds on our flagship program on agriculture, the Digital Farmers Program, a collaborative effort with the DA-ATI that aims to enhance farmers’ digital literacy and access, introducing them to tools and applications that can boost agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods,” according to Judee D. Chaves, head of Mindanao Relations under Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.
The two-day event featured discussions on leveraging social media, particularly TikTok Shop, as a powerful marketing tool for coconut products, to help farmers transition to technology-based solutions to expand their market and increase their sales. Participants learned how to create engaging content that will showcase their products, enhancing visibility and sales in an increasingly competitive market. Imelda Ang, a 72-year-old entrepreneur, shared her experience, “Given our age, we do not know much about the technologies used to market our products, so I am really grateful to join events like this to learn more about selling my products online.
The PLDT Group, with PLDT Enterprise and Maya, also provided insights in securing transactions and accelerating digital transformation in the agriculture sector. PLDT also powered the real-time live streaming of the event through fast and reliable connectivity to let other farmers join the summit online.
DA-ATI Information Officer II Assel Mapayo expressed her gratitude for the partnership with PLDT and Smart. She shared, “Together, we have already made great strides in empowering our farmers through the DFP 101 initiative, and we thank you for your continued support for our coconut farmers as well. This partnership is key to boosting the economic growth of Filipino farmers, and I am excited for our shared future.”
PLDT and Smart are deeply committed to ensuring that Filipino farmers have access to training and tools that will enable them to thrive in the digital age. This aligns with the group’s much broader commitment to support the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
