Summary Points
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Empowering MSMEs: Grab Philippines’ Asenso Learning Caravan equips Baguio City’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with AI tools, cashless payments, and essential digital skills, aligning with the city’s Smart City goals.
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Driving Digital Readiness: The initiative supports local businesses in embracing digital-first marketing and mobile tools, helping them accept cashless payments and scale operations without heavy investments or technical expertise.
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Community Cooperation: Highlighted by DICT representatives, Grab Asenso fosters a united effort to bridge the digital divide, aiming to create 8 million digital jobs and uplift MSMEs, reinforcing Filipinos’ traditional cooperation values.
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Sustainable Growth: Success stories, like Raff’s Fried Chicken House, demonstrate how Grab’s platform and tools, such as Merchant AI Assistant and Tap & Scan to Pay, enable small businesses to adapt, grow, and secure financial resilience in a competitive market.
Empowering MSMEs with Smart Tools
Grab Philippines launched its Asenso Learning Caravan in Baguio City. This initiative equips micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with AI-powered tools and cashless payment capabilities. As a result, local businesses can enhance their digital skills. Grab’s efforts align with Baguio’s Smart City priorities, including data-driven policymaking and improved digital readiness. “Digital readiness is prosperity policy,” said Paula Catanghal, Grab Philippines’ Deputy Head for Cities. The program helps humble eateries and small shops accept cashless payments and utilize AI for promotions. Consequently, it translates the city’s smart vision into practical capabilities for thousands of entrepreneurs.
A Collaborative Effort for Digital Inclusion
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) supports this initiative as part of a broader effort to bridge the digital divide. DICT Assistant Division Chief Jeehad Tanggol emphasized the importance of community cooperation in uplifting MSMEs. This learning caravan fits into the DICT’s Trabahong Digital Program, aiming to create 8 million digital jobs nationwide. GrabFood, launched in Baguio in 2020, has already shown positive impacts. Local MSMEs quickly adapted to digital commerce, using actionable data to refine their strategies. Tools like Grab Spotlight Ads have helped businesses market their products effectively. The upcoming launch of Grab’s Tap & Scan to Pay in Baguio, scheduled for 2026, further supports financial accessibility for small businesses. This collective effort underscores Baguio City’s commitment to becoming a digitally ready hub for growth.
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