The Department of Trade and Industry Misamis Oriental Provincial Office (DTI MISOR) recently soft-launched its e-commerce platform to help promote and sell local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) products in the region.

Through this platform, MERKADOMOR, MSMEs will be able to promote and sell their products, as well as “market test their products before they bring them to the mainstream market.”

Sellers will have more control in the operation of their businesses as it allows them to communicate and transact directly with their customers. Meanwhile, consumers can have access to the sellers’ relevant business information.

According to DTI MISOR, this platform will also offer a competitive advantage compared with other e-commerce sites due to the following reasons:

• No sign-up cost, no monthly fees, and no percentage commission per transaction;
• A wide array of product choices are offered at factory price since customers directly buy from local producers and manufacturers;
• Only verified sellers by the Department of Trade and Industry are allowed to sell in MERKADOMOR;
• Patrons of local products can directly reach out to the local producers and manufacturers and are assured that their support trickles down directly to the local producers and manufacturers. Accordingly, this support shall also benefit their employees, suppliers, and farmers.

MERKADOMOR promotes local products

As mentioned, sellers in the platform are only verified sellers by DTI MISOR and those trained under the agency’s Business Learning Sessions, Kapatid Mentor Me Program, or the Industry Cluster Program. In addition, special programs of the agency, like the One Town One Product (OTOP) NextGen Program, also supports the e-commerce initiative.

Aside from promoting local products, supporting local MSMEs also means “helping farmers, small cottage industries, women, out-of-school youth, indigenous communities, and other marginalized sectors of the locality.”

MSMEs are considered the backbone of the country’s economy, accounting for 89 to 99 percent of total establishments. They also provide more jobs to the Filipino people, especially during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, since they are the most resilient and adaptable—having to immediately respond to the community’s needs.

While the launch of MERKADOMOR is still part of its beta testing phase, interested buyers and sellers can now access the platform via https://www.merkadomor.ph. Moreover, the platform is yet to establish its payment system, so transactions are still made directly between sellers and buyers.

Watch the info video below to learn more.

Want to become part of the MERKADOMOR? Click here to register as a seller!

– WhatALife.ph

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