DICT Rolls Out AI Tools for Bicol MSMEs to Boost Business Growth

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced on Monday that it has rolled out a new set of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bicol grow their businesses. In a news release, the DICT said the rollout of AI tools form part of the MSME Digital Assistant —a suite of AI applications developed by the DICT to address common challenges faced by small businesses such as business planning and regulatory compliance to pricing, document interpretation and digital marketing. The MSME Digital Assistant includes KaPlano for business planning, KaSunod for government compliance, KaPresyo for product pricing, KaLinaw for simplifying contracts and official documents into plain Filipino, and KaClick, an AI-powered content creation tool for social media and online marketplaces. The ICT Department said the AI tools were presented by Undersecretary and chief-of-staff Faye Condez-de Sagon during the Landbank Talubo Bikolnon MSME Fair over the weekend. “Harnessing AI will give Filipino entrepreneurs, especially small business owners, a competitive advantage. This stack will definitely empower them to grow, expand, and provide more job opportunities to other Filipinos,” said Condez-de Sagon. The DICT said the initiative is part of Magkasangga, a joint program of the DICT and Landbank aimed at tackling biggest hurdles for MSM, namely limited access to digital technology and limited access to financing. For his part, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the DICT-Landbank partnership combines the strengths of both agencies to accelerate the growth of Filipino enterprises. Meanwhile, Condez-de Sagon also met with Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo to discuss expanding DICT assistance for the city’s digital transformation efforts. The ICT Department committed to support connectivity requirements for Naga’s disaster resilience infrastructure and explore assistance for its planned Command and Control Center and Intelligent Surveillance System. The agency said it has been expanding AI and digitalization initiatives nationwide as part of the Marcos administration’s broader push to modernize government services, strengthen digital infrastructure, and improve the competitiveness of Filipino businesses, particularly MSMEs, which account for more than 99 percent of enterprises and employ a majority of the country’s workforce. “We want technology to become something that MSMEs and LGUs can actually use to solve everyday problems, improve services, and create opportunities for their communities,” said Condez-de Sagon. —AOL, GMA News