DTI Business Counselors to Use GJobs to Help MSMEs Streamline Recruitment and Strengthen Employer Credibility

To address long-standing hiring challenges faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Negosyo Centers, has onboarded its Business Counselors to GJobs—the job hunting and job referral platform powered by PasaJob within the GCash app. The move is part of DTI's broader push to harness technology in upskilling and elevating MSMEs. The platform provides small businesses with a low-cost, accessible way to recruit talent, formalize hiring practices, and establish employer credibility, even without a dedicated HR team or system.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise 99.63% of all registered businesses in the Philippines and account for over 66.97% of total employment, according to 2023 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). However, a 2025 study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the DTI reports that only 13% of MSMEs plan to hire additional staff, with limited access to qualified talent and operational constraints among the top barriers. Many still rely on informal referrals or walk-ins, despite the rising complexity of digital and compliance requirements.

Business counselors, serving as frontline advisors, play a vital role in helping MSMEs navigate tools like GJobs and align staffing decisions with long-term growth goals. By enabling small enterprises to build more resilient teams, GJobs helps close long-standing productivity gaps and supports the competitiveness of the sector that employs the majority of the Filipino workforce.

“We recognize that hiring remains one of the most persistent pain points for small businesses. We want small business owners to be aware and take advantage of inclusive small business solutions such as GJobs,” said DTI regional operations group assistant secretary Grace Baluyan.

In its recent webinar, titled "Leveraging GJobs for MSME Recruitment and Strengthening Financial Literacy of Negosyo Center Business Counselors," the DTI strongly recommended that MSMEs leverage innovative talent recruitment solutions, such as GJobs, to help streamline hiring, formalize recruitment practices, and improve access to qualified candidates—all without the overhead cost of traditional methods.

GJobs, an in-app feature within the GCash platform, was developed in partnership with PasaJob to help small business employers access a pool of 2.4 million verified users. Designed to support hiring without functioning as a traditional job hunting and job referral platform, GJobs leverages incentive-based referrals through personal networks and operates on a pay-per-hire model—costs are incurred only when a successful hire is made.

This presents a cost-efficient advantage for MSMEs working with lean budgets. Early data show that job hiring timelines have been cut from 42 days to just 29, underscoring their impact on hiring efficiency and employer credibility.

“MSMEs need tools that match their realities. GJobs gives them reach, control, and affordability without requiring large HR investments,” said GCash VP and head of product innovation Leonardo Ferdinand Byron Perez.

By introducing inclusive job-hunting and job referral platforms like GJobs powered by PasaJob, DTI continues to advance efforts that level the playing field for small businesses—empowering MSMEs to thrive in the digital economy without compromising operational sustainability.

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.

DTI unveils top 5 startup finalists of ADVanCE for Creatives Program

April 2024, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has officially announced the top five startup finalists for the Accelerating Development, Valuation, and Corporate Entrepreneurship (ADVanCE) for Creatives Program on March 21, 2024, at the Launchgarage Innovation Hub in Quezon City.

Selected from an initial pool of eight growth-stage startups, the top five finalists underwent assessments of organizational capacity, business maturity, and readiness levels. In these sessions, DTI and Launchgarage evaluated each startup based on its product status, team dynamics, future objectives, and challenges, concentrating on how the program could support its growth. This ensured that the chosen finalists were not only well-prepared to navigate forthcoming challenges but were also positioned to make a significant impact on the creative sector through their innovative and scalable solutions.

The top five finalists are AniMattify, a startup transforming print ads into animations; KikoMonster Creative Studio, providing creative solutions from Zamboanga; Bihasa, merging instructional design with production for learning videos; ROC PH Digital Marketing Services, assisting businesses and professionals through website management, digital marketing consultation, creative design, and strategy implementation; and Bentamo, a tech startup showcasing creative Filipino brands. The finalists will undergo intensive training based on the specific interventions identified during the needs assessment.

The ADVanCE for Creatives program, launched on December 5, 2023, aligns with the visions outlined in the Innovative Startup Act (ISA) and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA). This initiative underscores DTI's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth in the Philippines.

DTI Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation Group Rafaelita M. Aldaba commended the selected startups, emphasizing DTI's dedication to supporting their growth. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the top five startup finalists of the ADVanCE for Creatives program,” said Usec. Aldaba. “DTI is proud to support the development of these promising startups as they contribute to the advancement of the Philippine Creative Industries.”

The finalists will benefit from comprehensive training through a series of learning workshops, mentorship from industry experts, and customized business matching and acceleration programs. The program will culminate in a demo day in April, providing an opportunity for the startups to showcase their progress and attract potential partners and investors.

In addition to ADVanCE, DTI previously unveiled ten select creative startups and enterprises for the Incubation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Assistance (IDEA) program, further bolstering the Philippine Creative Industries. The selected startups for IDEA are Wika, 7x7 Development Corporation, MVRK Simulations, Pamitisan Shoe Shop, Transcend Studios Inc., Kwentoon, Carisle Media Corporation, Produkto PH, DND Denim N’ Denim, and Brave Story.

DTI unveils OBRA Design Masterclass Program to elevate the furniture industry through training and mentorships

19 December 2023 - Pasay, Philippines – The Philippine Trade Training Center - Global MSME Academy (PTTC-GMEA) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) unveiled the OBRA Design Masterclass Program that aims to provide specialized furniture training and mentorships to young designers and scholars.

The OBRA Design Masterclass Program is designed to empower and uplift local talent within the furniture and creative industries. The program is set to put the standards of Filipino furniture design to the next level by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies, sustainable materials, and innovative creative processes.

“In the OBRA Design Masterclass, there will be training programs from mind setting, design thinking, market-driven designs, creative process, design phase, and prototyping. We will be witnessing the participants’ progress from the raw materials to those worth selling to the international market,” PTTC-GMEA Executive Director Nelly Nita Dillera said.

The program also aims to address challenges faced in the industry that affect Filipino furniture makers’ creativity and product development. Dillera cited escalating costs of imported raw materials and the competitive landscape amid rapid development on both local and international fronts.

Moreover, according to Ruby Salutan, Executive Consultant of Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc., a critical challenge the program intends to deal with is the emigration of professionals, including skilled furniture designers, from the country. OBRA Design Masterclass focuses on cultivating a cohort of young designers capable of seamlessly entering and contributing to the industry.

DTI-Competitiveness and Innovation Group Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba highlighted in her keynote speech the pivotal role of design in shaping a product's value, influencing consumer perceptions, demand, and market positioning, which generates value in the furniture landscape.

“In an increasingly competitive market environment, design stands as a key differentiator. Beyond keeping pace with design trends, our designs must also align with emerging consumer preferences encompassing eco-friendly materials, digital technology integration, and responsible sourcing,” Aldaba said. 

The program sessions will take place simultaneously across three locations: Pampanga, Cebu, and Manila. Participants will have the opportunity to refine their skills and capabilities in crafting designs and prototypes, guided by industry-renowned furniture designers such as multi-awarded industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue and industry partners like the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc., and Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc.

The program comprises three phases: the designer’s phase, providing participants with training in planning, execution, evaluation, and tools; the program consultancy phase, involving participant-companies in product development planning; and the designing for the market phase, where participant-companies engage in an international event, notably the Philippines International Furniture Show in March 2024.

The OBRA Design Masterclass Program sessions are scheduled to commence in the second week of December 2023. For more information, visit the DTI-PTTC Facebook page or www.pttc.gov.ph.