Recognizing the vital role of sari-sari stores in Filipino communities, Unilever Philippines launched the Kabisig Summit to empower these micro-businesses.
Through online and in-person training sessions, the program equips store owners with essential business skills, focusing on management, sales, and technology adoption.
Unilever Philippines chairman and CEO Fredy Ong emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering MSMEs as part of its sustainability agenda.
“The Kabisig Summit is important and personal to me, not only because I concurrently head our sales function, but because I have witnessed how a small business can change people’s lives for the better. The success of sari-sari stores is also the Filipino people’s success,” he said.
The program offers flexible learning formats, including online sessions, to maximize accessibility and minimize disruption to store operations and family life.
Peer-to-peer mentorship is a key element, fostering a supportive community where participants learn from each other’s experiences.
Since its launch in 2016, the Kabisig Summit has positively impacted hundreds of thousands of lives. A 2021 study showed that 91 percent of participants are women, and the program has led to increased earnings and business growth for the majority of attendees.
