Laguna, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Laguna Provincial Office, through its Empowering Through Access and Assistance Services (ETAAS) “Ang Pinay MSME” Program, successfully conducted its Laguna Run on November 5–7, 2025 at Asiablooms Hotel, Santa Cruz, Laguna.
The three-day activity gathered women entrepreneurs and aspiring digital sellers from across the province for a hands-on training program aimed at strengthening their digital marketing, online selling, and e-commerce capabilities. On the first day, Mr. Levy Visorde, Purplebug’s Sr. Brand Specialist, and Ms. Antonitte Jane Magsombol, SMICOS Brand Marketing Specialist, led a practical session on TikTok Shop registration, guiding participants through account creation and shop setup.
The discussion highlighted how short-form video content can help local entrepreneurs connect with broader audiences and boost sales. Participants were also introduced to CapCut, a user-friendly video editing tool that allows them to create creative, editable video posts to promote their products more effectively.
In the afternoon, Mr. Nico Toriano, Senior Business Counsellor assigned in Lumban, conducted a session on E-Marketing through Google My Business, emphasizing the value of online visibility and customer engagement. Participants were able to successfully create and verify their Google My Business profiles, allowing them to appear on Google Search and Maps—an essential step in expanding their reach and improving credibility.
The second day began with an inspirational message from DTI Laguna Provincial Director Christian Ted O. Tungohan, who underscored the need to continuously boost the knowledge of women entrepreneurs and equip them with digital skills to help them gain expanded market shares in today’s technology-driven economy.
Following this, Ms. Berlin V. Mabuna, Division Chief of the E-Commerce Policy and Promotion Division, E-Commerce Bureau, discussed key national initiatives supporting digital business growth. Her session covered the Internet Transactions Act of 2023 (ITA), DTI’s E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark, and Republic Act No. 11967, highlighting the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe, fair, and trustworthy e-commerce environment for both consumers and online sellers.
Afterward, Toriano returned to conduct a Canva workshop, where participants learned how to design posters, marketing materials, and creative layouts for their online platforms. In the afternoon, Elmar A. Salvador, Jolymar R. Ropal, Lean Kurt Razon Escano, Ed Rhovic Banaag Esmas, Angel Jentapa Bulalayao, Sarah Balmaceda Ramos, developers from Laguna University, facilitated a walkthrough of the ETAAS MobileApplication, an exclusive platform developed for ETAAS members. The app aims to serve as a centralized e-commerce and community hub, allowing members to showcase their products and services, manage transactions, and communicate with buyers in a secure digital environment.
On the final day, Provincial Director Tungohan delivered his closing remarks, emphasizing the importance and timeliness of the ETAAS Program in helping MSMEs transition into the digital marketplace. He expressed DTI’s continued commitment to nurturing digitally capable entrepreneurs and fostering inclusive business growth in Laguna.
As part of the culmination activity, graduates of the training program received digitalization kits, which they can utilize to apply their newly acquired skills and enhance their business operations (PSMCortezano, DTI-Laguna).
