'We cannot afford to have the SMEs behind if we want a developing economy,' said Damian Mapa, commissioner for the strategic business development group at the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT).

The ICT Blueprint outlines a five-step process for MSMEs to follow: awareness, business planning, financing, implementation, and support.

The CICT and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are working on increasing awareness of the advantages of ICT use among MSMEs through various activities, including a half-day seminar where success stories will be shared. The CEOs who attend the seminar will then be given a voucher to attend a five-day business planning seminar where, at the end, participants would have developed a business plan and cost-benefit analysis with the help of the CICT, DTI, and other partners.

Financing assistance will also be available through affordable payment schemes, said Mapa. He added that implementation support will also be provided by the Commission through vendor/solution certifications, which should help MSMEs determine which vendors and technology solutions are reliable and CICT-certified.

After implementation, continuous support will be available to MSMEs through a help desk and call center. 'Support will be readily available through one number, one help desk,' said the CICT commissioner during a press briefing here recently. Mapa added that the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has already agreed to donate one floor in its new building for the SME call center.