Insider Spotlight
The collaboration integrates TikTok Shop's flagship micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) development initiative, Unlad Lokal, into the DSWD's SLP through the "SLP! Tara, Live Sell Na!" program.
Participants will receive training on content creation, LIVE selling, seller onboarding, affiliate marketing, and other digital commerce tools designed to help them build and grow online businesses.
Why it matters
The partnership underscores growing collaboration between government agencies and digital platforms to equip MSMes with practical e-commerce skills as more businesses shift toward online marketplaces.
"MSMEs are at the heart of the Philippine economy, and many already have strong products and entrepreneurial drive,” TikTok Shop head of public policy for the Philippines Yves Gonzalez said in a press statement.
“Through TikTok Shop's partnership with the DSWD and the City of Valenzuela, we hope to equip more communities with the skills, tools, and support systems they need to participate in the digital economy and unlock new avenues for growth," Gonzalez said
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Valenzuela City's economy expanded by 6 percent in 2024, with gross domestic product reaching an estimated P178.96 billion.
TikTok Shop said the program seeks to capitalize on this growth by helping entrepreneurs improve their digital capabilities and access broader online markets. The initiative is also supported by partner brands Unilove and Cleanstar.
The bigger picture
TikTok Shop said more than 90 percent of active sellers on its platform are local businesses, while local sellers recorded more than 200 percent growth in sales in 2025.
The company also said it has doubled its active creator base, strengthening connections between businesses and consumers through creator-driven commerce.
"Partnerships with platforms such as TikTok Shop allow us to complement the DSWD's livelihood initiatives with practical digital skills that can open new opportunities for Filipino families,” Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian. “Through 'SLP! Tara, Live Sell Na!' in partnership with the Unlad Lokal Roadshow Caravan, we aim to equip participants not only with the capabilities to navigate the digital economy, but also with pathways to build sustainable sources of income and strengthen their long-term resilience," Gatchalian said.
Valenzuela 1st district Rep. Kenneth Gatchalian said the partnership demonstrates how national and local government collaboration with the private sector can help entrepreneurs gain the skills, networks, and resources needed to succeed in an increasingly digital economy. —Vanessa Hidalgo| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
