Accelerating digital entrepreneurship trainings for 2023
The ILO and DTI will accelerate digital entrepreneurship training for increased productivity, improved safety of small and informal enterprises across the Philippines under the Bringing Back Jobs Safely Project funded by the Government of Japan.The two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding on the project in August this year, ensuring that at least 20,000 micro, small and informal business will have access to additional trainings that will enable them to digitalize their businesses during the start-up and implementation phases.
“The DTI’s intervention through the ILO’s flagship programme, Safety + Health for All , offers a tailored set of assistance addressing the immediate and long-term safety and health needs of constituents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Undersecretary BlesilaLantayona of the DTI Regional Operations Group (ROG).
The trainings for MSMEs include the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB), Financial Education , Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) , and the Work Improvements in Small Enterprises (WISE) for COVID Plus.
“Digitalization of MSMEs will boost productivity and protect workers from risks of face-to-face transactions,” said Director Khalid Hassan of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines. In his first state of the nation address, President Marcos also identified inclusive digital transformation and continued support for MSMEs as part of his immediate priorities and six-year agenda.
“It is a privilege to work closely with the ILO on such an important venture. The project is a crucial contributor to achieving a robust and sustainable economic recovery for the Philippines from this global crisis. We envision that this will lead to being resilient to the impacts of potential future pandemics and emerge stronger and better,” said Japanese Minister Masahiro Nakata of the Embassy of Japan in Manila.
The ILO project aims to develop a cadre of local trainers in the Philippines, targeting 200 for SIYB , 60 for Financial Education , 20 for SCORE and 200 for WISE for COVID Plus. Once certified, the trainers can continue to adapt the programmes to suit the changing needs of target enterprises and continue to run the training beyond the project’s life.
The project is implemented in the Philippines as part of the ILO’s Safety + Health for All Flagship Programme to improve the safety and health of workers globally.
