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RDC XI assures efforts to improve families’ lives amid economic slowdown

by Contributor
written by Contributor

BY FRANCINE ALYXIA PALMES/CMU Intern

THE REGIONAL Development Council (RDC) XI said prices might have stabilized for now, but they have yet to trickle down to the families. 

During the Habi at Kape forum on Wednesday, July 8, Arturo M. Milan, RDC XI chair,  said it will take the families some time to feel the effects that the private sector and government are doing to improve their lives. 

“We, in the RDC, are working for poverty incidents to reach a single digit between the range of seven to eight percent, hopefully in the next two years,” he said.

According to Milan, politics played a big part in the sluggish showing of Davao’s economy. He also cited governance and the need to simplify processes like digitalizing applications for a better and faster processing of papers. 

He also cited the need to empower and encourage the micro, small and medium businesses, which make up 99% of the country’s registered companies and contribute 40% to the country’s gross domestic product.

The RDC is advocating for the online processing of permits to help ease business processing. 

Engr. Maria Victoria Placer, Davao Trade and Industry XI Davao del Sur director, said the agency launched IRegIS in July this year, which is an online registration for service and shop accreditation, business name application, and sales promotion for establishments. 

The initiative allows businesses to transact or pay online through GCash or other payment gateways. She hoped to digitalize the other processes to help MSMEs in the region.

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Business

FAST Logistics empowers MSMEs with end-to-end logistics solutions

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

FAST Logistics Group, the country’s leading end-to-end logistics company, empowered micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the city through logistics solutions for warehousing and transport needs.

FAST, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao City, gathered MSMEs during the FAST Solutions Roadshow and Roundtable Discussion on Friday, January 30, at The Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases here.

In his message, Oliver Encabo, FAST business unit head for inland freight, emphasized that cost remains the top concern for MSMEs, hindering their market expansion.

A survey of 38 Davao-based MSME owners showed that 78% consider high logistics costs as the biggest challenge affecting their businesses. 

Meanwhile, the cost of handling is among the top concerns for more than 9 in 10 MSMEs when considering a logistics partner.

“We want to help local businesses. Mag-focus kayo sa paglago ng negosyo ninyo. Kami na ang bahala sa pag-transport ng products. That is our vision,” Encano said.

More than assistance, he stressed that FAST offers tailor-fit support for MSMEs.

“World-class logistics solutions should not be exclusive to FMCG or the biggest brands. We share the view of the DTI and the Davao Chamber of Commerce that logistics solutions should be available and accessible for homegrown brands, so they can grow and reach their full potential,” Encabo said.

FAST has been in the logistics industry for 50 years, serving major brands, including but not limited to Jollibee, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Milo, Nescafé, Lucky Me, Colgate, among others.

Encabo added that FAST has an expansive network covering 94% of Philippine provinces, supported by a fleet of 3,100 trucks and over 900 trucking partners nationwide to meet the transport requirements of businesses of all sizes.

“We also offer sea and air freight, as we leverage our partnership with 14 shipping lines and two airlines to bring goods wherever they need to be,” he stressed. 

Meanwhile, Joey Nuñez, FAST senior manager for commercial development of new verticals, showcased integrated logistics solutions covering multi-modal transport (inland freight, RoRo, sea freight, and air freight), warehousing, crossdocking, ColdChain, and value-added services for MSMEs seeking to expand. 

FAST also presented end-to-end trade fair trade support from product pickup, transport, permits, and delivery to the trade fair venue. 

The services allow MSMEs to focus on showcasing their products during DTI-organized trade fairs outside Mindanao.

Nuñez explained that in FAST’s end-to-end trade fair support, products are picked up and delivered directly to the venue, removing the transport burden from MSMEs.

FAST operates two warehouses in Davao: one in Sasa and another in the newly-opened FAST Logistics and Crossdock Mega Hub in Acacia, Barangay Buhangin. 

FAST also has an existing trucking support program for truck owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, which includes a guaranteed monthly revenue option, dry leasing arrangements, financing options, a fuel savings program, and driver and helper hiring assistance.

Lani Catalan, Business Development Division chief, DTI Davao City, said the entry of FAST in the local business ecosystem will contribute to the enhanced competitiveness of MSMEs

“This collaboration is a welcome development, as it directly supports our Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by addressing one of their most critical needs- reliable and efficient logistics that ensure their products reach clients promptly and safely,” Catalan said.

Presently, there are 50,000 registered enterprises in the city, where 90% are MSMEs.

The event is part of FAST’s Mindanao roadshow. Last week, FAST convened MSMEs in Cagayan de Oro City and nearby areas in Misamis Oriental.

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Business

33,217 MSMEs assisted by DTI

by Gio Tanudtanud
written by Gio Tanudtanud

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI has helped 33,217 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) out of the 53,907 clients in the year 2025.

DTI IX regional director Romeo Castañaga said 50 to 70% of the MSMEs are from the priority industry clusters that are into agri value chains. According to data, 87% (28,906) of the assisted MSMEs are classified as growing enterprises, and 19,753 of the 33,217 are now into e-commerce. 

Through the implementation of the “Industry Cluster Enhancement Strategy,” the agency provided services to eight priority clusters in Region XI, namely cacao, coffee, coconut, rubber,  palm oil, processed fruits and nuts, wearables, and bamboo.

The clusters had generated 14,759 jobs, aided 2,010 MSMEs, and conducted 404 training activities that benefited 10,414 clients. It also monitored P126M worth of investments, $33M of exports, and P277M of domestic sales.

In the year 2025, DTI XI conducted 25 trade fairs, which gathered a total of 462 exhibitors earning P20,020.49 cash and booked sales, and P469,400.03 under nego sales.

Castañaga shared that the “Madayaw! The Davao Region Trade Fair” event, held from Dec. 4 to 7, had a good reception that brought many foreign and institutional buyers to witness the region’s best local products.

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Business

New tools from GCash for Business that should be on your radar as a small biz owner

by Contributor
written by Contributor

MANILA, Philippines – Today’s new generation of entrepreneurs has to navigate a fast-changing business landscape.  Technology and customer habits are constantly evolving, so many new business owners are seeking smarter, simpler ways to streamline their daily operations while ensuring they manage and grow their businesses effectively.

For Marc Gan, Ched Hilado, and Princess Potot, GCash for Business has become their partner in making many aspects of running their businesses easier each day. With GCash for Business and its various products, they can manage transactions more efficiently in-store, receive payments daily on a separate business wallet, and even pay their suppliers through an exclusive portal. 

Here’s how they experience easy everyday with GCash for Business and why these tools should be on your radar if you’re a small biz owner: 

  1. Seamless payments save time and add convenience

Running Davao’s newest hangout, Habits Coffee + Cocktail Bar, means staying quick on your feet, something co-founders Marc Gan, Melvin Teves, Jahnikka Baricuatro, and Franz Villanueva know well. With GCash SoundPay, their transactions are faster and smoother, allowing them to keep up with their customers.

GCash SoundPay is a portable device that provides instant confirmation anytime, anywhere. It allows customers to make cashless payments by simply scanning the merchant’s GCash QR code. Once payments are made, it generates an instant audio confirmation. Payments through GCash SoundPay are sped up and secure.

“The instant voice confirmation for every successful payment means we never miss a sale, and our customers love the convenience. It’s simple for our staff to use, and it helps keep our operations running smoothly,” the team shares.

Before GCash SoundPay, Marc and his team handled a lot of cash, which often slowed down service. Now, with instant voice confirmation letting both staff and customers know that the payment went through, Marc and his team can speed things up at the counter. 

  1. Accurate payments and proper recording mean no missed sales

From just selling their burgers at weekend markets to now running three branches across Bacolod and Dumaguete, Das Burgery owner Ched Hilado knows firsthand how managing cash payments can be a headache and lead to errors. Since onboarding with GCash for Business and deploying GCash SoundPay to all her branches, the experience has improved greatly for her and her team. 

“When we receive the audio payment confirmation that indicates payments are received, we are assured that the money has entered our account,” she explains.

  1. Organized finances help business owners plan for growth 

For 3rdfloorespresso Cafe in Butuan City, owner Princess Potot recalls the struggles of mixing personal and business funds in her personal GCash wallet before she switched to GCash for Business. 

She explains, “I had a QR for GCash, but it’s personal. So, what happens is that it’s connected to my personal money, which is a long process when it comes to recording, accounting, because your personal transactions are mixed up.” 

Princess highlights how the new GCash for Business Portal changed that. With the new GCash for Business Portal, businesses get access to an easy-to-use platform to track and manage all online transactions in one place. It includes a simple, easy-to-use payments tracker and management system, no wallet limit when receiving cashless payments from customers, and no transaction fees when paying suppliers through GCash or bank transfers.. 

“It’s really easy when it comes to recording sales. It’s very friendly for new business owners, because it can do your records, manage your finances, and all the things that help you do your work easier” says Princess.

Enter Your Easy Era with GCash for Business

If you’re a small business owner looking to enter your “easy era,” these new solutions from GCash for Business offer a simple way to modernize how you manage payments so that you can focus on what really matters: growing your business. Aside from GCash SoundPay and the GCash for Business Portal, the new GCash PocketPay is a recently-launched innovation made especially for MSMEs that turns their phone into a POS machine! It enables business owners to use their Android NFC-enabled smartphone to accept credit card or debit card payments, track inventory and business transactions through the same phone, and get fast settlements for every payment. 

Signing up for these solutions is as easy as 1-2-3!

  1. Create an account on the GCash for Business Portal. You can get started as a merchant using just your verified GCash account of at least 12 months to qualify for a Starter Plan.
  2. Order a GCash SoundPay device or GCash PocketPay.
  3. Wait for your email confirmation on your GCash SoundPay delivery, or download GCash Pocketpay on the Google Play Store.

For more information on how GCash helps empower businesses, visit GCash for Business.

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