Meta AIccelerate: Empowering Filipino MSMEs Through AI and Digital Innovation

Quezon City, Philippines – On September 3, 2025, Bayan Academy, in partnership with DTI, Meta, AAP, and in support of the Quezon City Government, launched the Business Impact and Digital Advancement (BIDA): Meta AIccelerate Training Program, a landmark initiative to help Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) embrace Meta powered artificial intelligence (AI) tools and thrive in the digital economy.

Since 2017, META, Bayan Academy, and DTI have supported MSMEs nationwide, upskilling them in digital marketing and e-commerce. These efforts have accelerated MSMEs’ growth, allowing them to attract authentic customers and safely promote their businesses online. Building on this foundation, the new BIDA META AIccelerate program introduces Meta-powered AI solutions to further equip MSMEs with the essential skills and knowledge that they need to seize opportunities in the digital age. 

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AI for MSME Growth

The program introduces practical AI applications tailored for entrepreneurs—from content creation and customer engagement to data-driven decision-making. For many MSMEs, this marks their first step in leveraging AI to become future-ready.

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“The BIDA program is thoughtfully designed for the unique needs of small businesses. We believe in the incredible potential of Filipino MSMEs to drive growth and innovation in the Philippines. And, by truly leveraging on Meta's AI-powered technologies and digital marketing tools, they can reach new customers locally and globally, streamline operations, and stay ahead of the competition,” shared Genixon David, Public Policy Manager for the Philippines at Meta.

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Prof. Carlo Sagun, President and CEO of the Bayan Family of Foundations, highlighted the transformative potential of AI for businesses, specifically in how AI adoption shifts competitive advantage from traditional expertise to augmented capabilities. While this evolution of the business landscape presents challenges, it also creates huge opportunities for grassroots entrepreneurs. In order for Filipino MSMEs to achieve sustained competitive advantage for the long haul, Prof. Sagun also emphasized the crucial role of collaboration across sectors. 

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“We're very thankful to have the support and commitment of key ecosystem actors: DTI, TESDA, LGU counterparts, the educators, the trainers, and, of course, our entrepreneurs. It is really going to take an ecosystem approach for us to shift the sector's performance towards what this era in AI and tech innovation is actually bringing forth for Filipino enterprises,” said Prof. Sagun. 

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An Ecosystem of Support

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Key government partners reaffirmed their commitment to empowering Filipino entrepreneurs:

• DTI E-Commerce Bureau OIC Director Eryl Royce Nagtalon recognized the long-standing partnership with Meta and Bayan Academy, which has enabled MSMEs to reach new customers, tell their stories, and scale their impact. He said the new AI-focused cycle aligns with DTI’s innovation agenda to empower MSMEs as active shapers of the country’s digital transformation. 
• Jaquelin Jamilah Ali, Chief of Technology Research and Development Division of TESDA, affirmed the agency’s commitment to build capacity and capability for Filipinos to do meaningful work. With the rise of AI-powered technologies presenting valuable opportunities for the workforce, TESDA is set to launch a new Digital Marketing Level 3 course to complement initiatives like BIDA Meta AIccelerate.
• Representing the Quezon City Government, Mona Celine Yap, Department Head of the Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office, stressed the importance of supporting entrepreneurs by giving them the right tools, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in the digital economy. “When we empower MSMEs, we are not just helping businesses succeed—we are strengthening families, building communities, and driving inclusive economic growth,” she said. 

The event featured a keynote from Michelle Alarcon, President of the Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines (AAP), who encouraged MSMEs to use AI as a tool to make smarter decisions and uncover growth opportunities by sharing practical ways MSMEs can harness AI through data and analytics. 

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Building a Smarter, More Inclusive Future

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“From simple digital marketing trainings in 2017, our partnership has matured into a comprehensive ecosystem-driven collaboration that empowers MSMEs and contributes to the broader goal of nation-building. If we can take advantage of AI, harmonizing the human with the machine, the growth of each entrepreneur can be exponential,” said Luke Orbos, Executive Director of Bayan Academy. 

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The launch event, which also marked Day 1 of BIDA Meta AIccelerate, brought together 33 MSMEs onsite, 202 MSMEs online, and 11 trainers. The first day of the training program was led by Meta-certified trainer Frances Cruz and focused on mastering Meta’s Ads Manager. Participants learned how to optimize campaigns through Meta Advantage, gaining hands-on insights they could immediately apply to strengthen their marketing efforts. Many highlighted the session’s practical value, particularly the discussion on Advantage+, which offered a clear roadmap for reaching specific target markets and building meaningful brand awareness.

With MSMEs comprising 99% of businesses and over 65% of jobs in the Philippines, the BIDA Meta AIccelerate Training Program 2025 is set to play a vital role in strengthening their competitiveness in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

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By making technology and training accessible, we can create a smarter, stronger, and more resilient MSME sector, where every Filipino entrepreneur has the opportunity to succeed in the digital age.