When a sari-sari store owner learns how to price products for profit, or a home-based baker discovers the power of digital payments, something remarkable happens: a small business begins to dream bigger.
Across the Philippines, microbusinesses are the lifeblood of local economies. They are the neighborhood eateries, the tailoring shops, the market stalls often run by families who pour their time, savings, and heart into serving their communities. But while passion fuels these enterprises, access to the right knowledge, tools, and networks can be the difference between surviving and thriving.
From Barangay Roots to Bigger Opportunities
In partnership with BPI Direct BanKo and the DTI – Philippine Trade Training Center – Global MSME Academy (PTTC-GMEA), the program has reached 370 microbusinesses in provinces including Rizal, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Samar, and South Cotabato.
Participants undergo intensive training in the following areas: product diversification to meet evolving customer needs, digital payment systems for faster and safer transactions, costing and pricing strategies to ensure profitability, negotiation skills to secure better deals, and entrepreneurial finance for smarter money management.
“We carried out this initiative recognizing that our microbusinesses, especially those in local barangays, have the potential to thrive when equipped with suitable training tailored to their needs,” said Carmina Marquez, BPIF Executive Director. “By empowering them to grow and innovate, we believe they can become self-sustaining and deliver services to their customers well.”
Turning Skills Into Sales
The program doesn’t stop at theory. It creates real-world opportunities for entrepreneurs to apply what they’ve learned.
Through market fairs held in each province, participants showcased their products and services, generating a combined P2.25 million in sales. Pitching sessions allowed them to present their business ideas to a panel, with select entrepreneurs receiving P25,000 pitch grants and P20,000 booth set-up awards to help them scale further.
A Ripple Effect in Communities
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up 99.63% of all businesses in the Philippines, with micro enterprises alone accounting for over 90%. By equipping these entrepreneurs with practical skills and market access, SEAL-BETA is not just helping individual businesses, but it’s strengthening the economic backbone of entire communities.
As of 2024, 514 enterprises have benefited from the program, each one a testament to what’s possible when opportunity meets preparation.
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