MSMEs Eye Wider Product Promotion through DOST OneSTore

As one of the prime movers of local entrepreneurship opportunities through science, technology, and innovation, the Department of Science and Technology continues to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing technological innovations to improve product quality, increase productivity, and create jobs.

Meanwhile, preliminary results released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on the nationwide Updating of the List of Establishments (ULE) in 2021, the National Capital Region (NCR) remained as the hub of business and industry with 201,080 establishments which comprises 18.6% of the total number of establishments that generated 33.6% of the total employment in the same year.

To help MSMEs reach a wider market, and in turn increase sales and further provide job opportunities, the DOST developed the OneSTore.ph, an e-commerce marketing platform which can be utilized by local businesses to widen their market reach and scale up their business opportunities online.

OneSTore.ph has six (6) components namely: oneSTore Express, oneSTore Hub, oneSTore Kiosk, oneSTore City, oneSTore Global, and oneSTore Vending Machine.

As this was made for every Filipino entrepreneur, the beneficiaries of the Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines (iFWD PH) Program and Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) in Metro Manila participated in the virtual orientation on the DOST-developed oneSTore.ph on 19 April 2022.

During the orientation meeting, DOST-II Science Research Specialist and oneSTore.ph Project Manager, Mr. Christopher P. Musni, discussed the portal's features, its components, and some digital marketing strategies, among others.

In the said online application, DOST-assisted firms will be able to bring a range of quality and locally processed food products such as coffee grounds, chicharon, and gourmet tuyo, agricultural items such as red rice and vegetable chips, woodcrafts, and other innovative products to every buyer in the most convenient way.

Together with its partner agencies and logistics companies, this initiative of the DOST will help SETUP cooperators and OFW enterprises to promote their local products online, reach a larger market nationwide, and increase their respective sales income.