Amazing Jing for Life: MSME

SM Supermalls empowers MSMEs’ future through inclusive resilience

July 2, 2025

Micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) tenants and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-supported entrepreneurs gear up for resilience through SM Supermalls’ nationwide Business Continuity Plan workshops.

SM Supermalls champions resilience as a shared responsibility, empowering communities and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) tenants nationwide.

For SM Supermalls, resilience remains an essential pillar in its pursuit of sustainability. Without safe, secure, and prepared communities, the vision of sustainable development becomes difficult to achieve. This is why the company believes that promoting resilience is not only a matter of operational readiness but a responsibility to the communities and businesses that form the backbone of the economy.

At the heart of this commitment are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). These businesses are often the most vulnerable to disruptions brought about by natural and man-made hazards. Yet, they represent a critical force in the national economy---generating jobs, driving local commerce, and sustaining livelihoods. Recognizing their importance, SM Supermalls has made it a priority to help cultivate an MSME sector that is resilient.

Across its network, close to 70 percent of SM Supermalls’ tenants are currently MSMEs. These businesses operate under unique lessee contracts that acknowledge their specific needs and challenges. To support them, SM not only provides space but also promotes an environment that values preparedness and long-term continuity.

Beyond providing retail spaces, SM Supermalls promotes micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) resilience through emergency drills and dedicated Business Continuity Planning (BCP) initiatives.

SM Supermalls’ most notable resilience initiative for its MSME tenants is a dedicated Business Continuity Planning (BCP) program launched in 2024. This capacity-building initiative enables businesses to develop tailored Business Continuity Plans and implement adaptive measures to reduce the impact of disruptions.

SM’s tenants are each provided with free access to 5GB of remote digital storage where they can securely store critical business documents such as their BCPs, permits, registrations, and insurance policies, among others. In the event of a disaster, access to these documents becomes seamless, allowing faster processing of insurance claims and a quicker return to operations.

To further scale its impact, SM Supermalls established a public-private partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement in 2024. Together with ARISE Philippines, a United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)-affiliated private sector alliance for disaster resilience, the partnership aims to ensure that 6,000 MSMEs have robust BCPs by the end of 2027.

Business continuity subject matter experts guide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in crafting their own Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) for their company.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Bureau of Small Medium Enterprise Development and SM Supermalls representatives join together in disaster risk resilience awareness and business continuity for micro, small and medium enterprises.

This collaboration is led by DTI Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona and Bureau of Small Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED) Director Emma Asusano, alongside SM Supermalls’ Corporate Resilience Department. The shared goal is clear: to safeguard MSMEs nationwide through proactive preparedness.

One key feature of the initiative is the SM-DTI Calamity Recovery (CARE) Booth, activated during times of calamity. Located in malls with communities impacted by disasters, the booth serves as an accessible touchpoint for MSMEs needing post-disaster support---providing a practical and timely response mechanism that bridges the gap between public resources and private needs.

Additionally, SM Supermalls regularly hosts scheduled BCP workshops for MSMEs in collaboration with DTI. These workshops are conducted in centralized SM locations across various regions and are open to both SM tenants and DTI-assisted MSMEs. During these sessions, business owners are introduced to the various risks posed by different types of disasters and are guided step-by-step in developing their own BCPs. These plans are tailored to the unique nature and geographical location of their operations, and the sessions extend to the BCP testing and validation phase to ensure practical application and effectiveness.

The participants are given one month to finalize their BCPs, which must be approved by their business management and submitted to DTI. Since the program’s launch in September 2024, over 1,500 MSMEs have already undergone training, with more scheduled in the months ahead.

“Resilience is not built overnight, and requires education, commitment, and collaboration across different sectors. Knowing this, SM Supermalls continues to invest in long-term resilience not just for its business, but for the broader ecosystem of MSMEs it supports,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. “In doing so, we are reinforcing the fundamental truth that sustainable progress is only possible when communities and businesses are prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow.”

Posted in: MSME, SM Supermalls | Posted by : Amazing Jing Javier

GCash enables young professionals, MSMEs to unlock financial goals

July 4, 2022

GCash, the Philippines’ number one financial super app, is enabling young professionals and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to unlock their financial goals through the many accessible digital financial services it offers like savings, loans, insurance, and even investments.

GCash recently shared that young professionals are becoming more independent, budget conscious, and open to trying simple ways to earn more while owners of MSMEs struggle to find accessible financing to expand their business and reach more customers.

That’s why GCash has been ramping up its line-up of financial services to help individuals achieve financial freedom while giving micro to small entrepreneurs the lifeline they need to keep their business afloat or the additional funds to support their expansion.

GCash has a slew of services which help users manage their wealth and gain financial security. For one, GSave, a digital savings account, offers a higher savings rate of up to 2.6% per annum than traditional banks, and that lets users access their money 24/7 anytime, anywhere.

GInsure is a one-stop shop for insurance products that’s easy to understand, has a low premium but comprehensive coverage like personal accidents, medical services, car insurance, income loss, and even online shopping, bills, cars, and pets.

The super app also enables individuals and MSMEs to have access to credit. GGives is an easy pay-later option that allows users to purchase gadgets, appliances, furniture and even plane tickets, among others worth up to P50,000 from 85,000 partner stores nationwide and pay for them later up to 24 gives over 12 months; and GLoan, which offers easy and fast cash loans up to P50,000 repayable up to 12 months with low interest rates and are suitable for digital entrepreneurs with growing online businesses.

The mobile app can also help users manage their finances as it provides a real-time record of their digital transactions which can be accessed 24/7 on their smartphone.

Financial literacy and customer engagement through social media

Aside from introducing various digital financial solutions, GCash is also maximizing the use of social media in its drive to educate and engage the youth on the benefits of using the app and learning more about its financial services.

Users can find GCash’s educational content on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram where they can learn from financial and medical experts, inspirational celebrities and other social media influencers. These include tutorials, life-goal hacks, and personal stories. They also answer frequently asked questions on finances and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of certain financial products, offer tips to develop the right mindset and behaviors toward money to avoid financial mistakes.

With GCash services and its financial literacy projects, Filipinos can start early on growing their wealth, upgrading their lifestyle and future-proofing their finances.

GCash has been a trusted digital financial platform by millions of FIlipinos especially as its operations is approved and regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Since its launch in 2004, GCash users have increased to over 60 million, covering 83% of the Philippine population. Among them are at least five million merchants using the mobile app to accept digital payments from customers. In 2021, there were five times more active monthly users of GCash than the second largest competitor’s.

To know more about GCash and its financial services, visit https://www.gcash.com.

About GCash

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1.3k partner billers; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 4.5M partner merchants and social sellers; cash-in and cash-out at over 170k partner agents; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.).

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 60 million Filipinos in the country today.

Neil Trinidad is VP & Head of New Business in GCash. In this role, he’s tasked to lead efforts in growing new GCash services like InsureTech, Data Monetization, and Crypto, as well as driving Masterbrand marketing for the GCash Brand.

Neil was most recently the Chief Marketing Officer of Lazada Philippines, where he helped accelerate the growth of e-commerce in the country. In 2021, Neil was recognized as the Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards Chief Marketing Communications Officer of the Year.

Before that, Neil was with Google Philippines, where he was an Industry Manager for Telco, Travel, and QSR verticals. For 15 years of his career, Neil worked in Unilever across local, regional and global marketing roles, where he handled over 15 brands, including Dove, Rexona, and Pond’s.

He is also the Co-Founder of The Feel Good Food Group, an e-commerce health food delivery business that was founded in 2017 and today has four brands - Ketos of Manila, The Sugar-Free Bakery, Eat’s Life Manila, and Get Well Soup.

Neil graduated from The University of Asia & the Pacific in 2004 with a Master’s Degree in Communications, Major in Integrated Marketing Communications.

Tony Isidro is CEO of FUSE Lending Inc, the lending business of GCash. He oversees product development and operations, and helps enable GCash to provide unbanked and underserved Filipinos credit that is both fair and accessible.

Tony started his career in the fast-moving consumer goods industry steering brands into a strong leadership position. He subsequently transitioned to the financial services industry, where he had notable stints marked by successful business turnarounds and new product launches. His rich experience across a diverse set of markets, keen sense for consumer insights and practical business sense is now helping bring GCash closer to its vision of finance for all Filipinos.

He holds a Management Engineering degree from Ateneo de Manila University, where he was also a part-time faculty member of its Marketing and Law Department.