TikTok Shop rolls out Unlad Lokal program in Pasig City

TikTok Shop is equipping Pasig City’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with e-commerce skills through the expansion of the Unlad Lokal program — its flagship e-commerce initiative for the sector — in the city.

The program’s rollout in Pasig was formalized on Tuesday at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig (PLP), making the city the sixth local government unit to adopt the program since its inception in March last year. Unlad Lokal has already trained over 25,000 MSMEs.

“This program aims to strengthen the livelihood development of MSMEs here in Pasig, as well as enhance the e-commerce knowledge of PLP students,” Josephine D. Nefiel, head of the entrepreneurship and business development division of the city’s local economic development and investment office, told reporters at the sidelines of the TikTok Shop Unlad Lokal Roadshow Caravan at PLP.

MSMEs will also receive training in negotiation, marketing, and financial literacy, all of which will be offered free of charge through the collaboration between TikTok Shop and the city government, Ms. Nefiel said.

The training sessions will be conducted across 36 sessions throughout the year.

Ms. Nefiel did not disclose the total target number of MSMEs they aim to train, but noted that more than 29,000 MSMEs in the city may benefit from the program.

Meanwhile, Yves Gonzalez, head of public policy for the Philippines at TikTok Shop, said the company aims to share its expertise in content creation, live selling, affiliate marketing, and affiliate programs to complement the quality products of Pasigueño MSMEs.

“We provide that layer of knowledge so that, working hand-in-hand, we can really enable more MSMEs in Pasig City to expand their reach,” Mr. Gonzalez told reporters.

“They already have good products, they already have quality products. What they need help with is really discoverability,” he added.

Moving forward, Mr. Gonzalez said TikTok Shop aims to partner with more local governments to train as many MSMEs as possible through the Unlad Lokal program. The company also plans to expand the program to the Visayas and Mindanao within the year.—  Edg Adrian A. Eva