The country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) now have an e-commerce platform through the partnership of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank).
The DOST sealed its partnership with LandBank for the oneSTore.ph Project with the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) held at the LandBank Plaza in Manila recently. Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña and LandBank President and CEO Alex Buenaventura signed the MOA for the e-commerce web application that provides a marketing platform for DOST-assisted MSMEs around the Philippines under its Small Enterprise Upgrading Program.
It offers customers an effortless shopping experience, and gives retailers simple and direct access to the largest customer base in the country.
Under the agreement, LandBank serves as the payment-solution system of the oneSTore.ph project through its ePayment Portal, which provides a secure and convenient payment platform while facilitating operational and cost efficiencies for seller MSMEs.
“Prior to the establishment of oneSTore.ph, the country did not have an e-commerce platform that caters exclusively to quality Filipino products. This is why the government and its agencies have made deliberate and concerted efforts to leverage our MSMEs to a vantage point, where they can be strategic in their chosen venture,” de la Peña said.
On his part, Buenaventura said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this breakthrough service, which provides an online platform for MSMEs to promote and sell their products to both local and international markets.”
Initiated by former Science Secretary Mario Montejo and developed by DOST Cagayan region, oneSTore.ph was launched in July 2015 and has already uploaded/featured over 10,000 products, ranging from food, agriculture, furniture, handicrafts, metals and other items, like bath essentials, personalized gifts and accessories. S&T Media Service