How an inclusive digital economy empowers MSMEs
Opportunities for business growth are becoming more attainable as advanced digital tools and mechanisms remove some of the physical and logistical barriers that make running a business difficult for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially for people with disabilities.
Veronica Tabrilla, an entrepreneur with an orthopedic disability and owner of sustainable business Vero Denim Bags, said digital payments, delivery services, and online tools have made it easier to manage her business while reducing the need for in-person transactions.
On July 30, Inquirer ESG Edge Connect Network 2026 brought together industry leaders and advocates for a discussion on “Empowering an Inclusive Digital Economy: Access, Innovation, and Opportunity for Filipinos.”
Tabrilla, a participant of the forum, told the Inquirer, “even with payments—using platforms like GCash—it is now easy to receive payment upfront. It’s not like before, where you had to meet up in person. That’s no longer necessary, thanks to logistics and delivery apps.”
Coverage gap
Globe Telecom said it currently has around 68 million registered mobile customers and provides network coverage to about 96 percent of the Philippine population.
“We know that connectivity, more than being a utility, is really an enabler of national progress. And we think it’s important that we educate all our stakeholders on the importance of connectivity as an enabler of digital transformation,” said Chito Maniago, senior director and head for public relations and communications strategy at Globe.
The company said its partnership with Starlink is helping address the remaining coverage gap through a direct-to-mobile satellite service, allowing users in geographically isolated areas to send texts, make calls, and access basic applications through their mobile phones.
Globe also cited its Bayanihan SIM project, implemented with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, under which 180 sites have been completed to provide connectivity to students, teachers and small businesses in underserved areas.
Inclusive lending
Kevin Yu, head of B2B Lending at Fuse Financing, the lending arm of GCash, said MSMEs account for 99 percent of businesses in the Philippines and help drive job creation and economic activity nationwide, yet many small business owners struggle to access traditional loans.
“Conservative and conventional lenders often require collateral. They require extensive business documents for an established credit history, most of which Filipino business owners don’t really have even if they’ve been running their businesses for years already,” said Yu.
“So we don’t look at traditional documents. We look at digital financial behavior, the transactions that you have within the GCash ecosystem. And through that, we’re able to extend forward credit to many Filipino business owners who may have been underserved by conventional lenders,” said Yu.
Yu said their technology-driven approach enables faster and more inclusive lending decisions while maintaining responsible lending standards.
Financial health
Cesar Augusto Villanueva Jr., deputy director of the financial inclusion office at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, said financial inclusion is the foundation, but financial health adds another important dimension to whether Filipinos are actually benefiting from the financial services available to them.
“Do financial services help them manage their daily expenses? Do they help families prepare for emergencies? Do they help workers and entrepreneurs save and borrow responsibly and insure themselves? Do these services help people feel more in control and confident of their finances?,” asked Villanueva.
Villanueva noted that the BSP’s role is to create an enabling environment anchored on safe innovation, interoperable payments, and shared digital infrastructure, including InstaPay and QR Ph.
“The promise of the digital economy is not measured on how transactions become digital or how advanced our technologies become. It is measured by whether more Filipinos can participate in the economy, manage their finances with confidence, withstand life’s uncertainties, and pursue better opportunities,” said Villanueva.
“Let’s not be afraid to explore digital mechanisms, especially since it can propel our businesses to a higher level. But we should, of course, exert a certain degree of diligence,” Villanueva stressed during the panel discussion with Inquirer business features editor Doris Dumlao-Abadilla.
Mentorship needed
Villanueva said consumers can use BOB—the BSP Online Buddy, an AI-powered chatbot available in Filipino and Taglish—which provides round-the-clock assistance for consumer complaints and inquiries involving banks, e-wallets, and other BSP-supervised financial institutions.
Noel Santiago, Go Negosyo adviser for Magandang Business Advice, said entrepreneurs also need mentors who can help them understand how to apply technology to their specific business needs.
“We do believe that without a mentor guiding them every step of the way, the chance of success is questionable,” said Santiago, citing their organization’s Kapatid Mentor Me program which aims to guide entrepreneurs through practical aspects of running and expanding their businesses.
Santiago said they use the 3M framework—mentorship, money, and market—by equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge to run their businesses properly, understand their suppliers and buyers, and navigate compliance, regulatory requirements, and ethical business practices.
Crucial link
Meanwhile, Cheche David, head for enterprise at Power Mac Center, said devices serve as a crucial link connecting the various programs and initiatives aimed at helping businesses embrace digitalization.
“By providing secure, modern, and accessible Apple-powered environments, we enable businesses of all sizes to adopt technology that expands opportunity, enhances productivity, and supports inclusive growth,” said David.
She added that digital transformation is no longer something businesses can postpone as a “long-term aspiration,” but an “imperative” as organizations compete in an increasingly connected economy.
