Women entrepreneurs use smartphone as sideline tool

In the provinces of in Leyte, Quezon and Laguna, more than 100 sari-sari store owners who are mostly women have been using their smartphones to make money on the side by sending and remittances.

 

“We provide them with free Android smartphones with the apps for mobile remittances and initial capital of P10,000 each,” Mark Ruiz, co-founder and president of Hapinoy, a social enterprise that helps microentrepreneurs, told reporters in a briefing.

 

Sari-sari stores are family-owned convenience stores usually operated by women, serving rural communities which lack access to financial services. There are more than 1 million sari-sari stores in the country, according to Hapinoy.

 

Ruiz said the P10,000 is used for mobile money transfers, currently Smart Money, and mobile loads. “They are given a six-month break before paying the amount, so they can grow the money.”

 

A portion of a sari-sari store’s transactions go to Hapinoy for its operating capital. The stores charge P30 for remittances P500 to P1,000.

 

The hurdle among the women was how to use the device as they transition from the "pindot" system of old phones to the tap and swipe of smartphones.

 

Hapinoy and partner Qualcomm Wireless Reach tapped sari-sari stores because in areas that are unbanked, noted Ruiz. In the process, the ubiquitous neighborhood stores are transformed into mobile money hubs servicing domestic migrant workers and students.

 

Qualcomm Wireless Reach is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program focused on entrepreneurship, health care, public safety, teaching and environment in Southeast Asia and Africa as well as India, China and Japan.
 

The partnership with Hapinoy provides women with mobile literacy training, business opportunities and access to capital. It has so far trained 4,000 sari-sari store owners.

Connectivity
 

Crucial to the program is data connectivity or Internet access, a major factor in choosing pilot areas. In urban areas Wi-Fi is available. In other areas, Hapinoy provides prepaid Internet.

 

Kyle Moss, Qualcomm Incorporated senior analyst for government affairs, said they provide grants of $5,000 up to $500,000.

 

“This is part of the strategic program that brings wireless technology to underserved communities globally,” she said, noting that the smartphones use Qualcomm Snapdragon processors.

 

According to Hapinoy, about 2.5 billion people worldwide lack access to financial services. They don't have banks or credit cards, making it difficult to make payments or remittances.

 

In the Philippines, only one in five households owns a deposit account and 37 percent of Filipino municipalities have no banking services, Hapinoy said.

 

Also present during the briefing on Thursday were Alicia Dumdum and Bella Sadongdong of Tacloban, Leyte. They joined Hapinoy when it was launched in September 2014. 

 

The program has helped rebuild their lives in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. “Malaki ang naitulong sa amin ng Hapinoy at sa mga tao sa aming barangay,” said Sadongdong.

 

MasterCard also provides part of the funds and the training, while Smart Communications provides wireless 3G connectivity and Smart Money. 

 

The Grameen Foundation, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Department of Social Welfare and Development are also involved in the project. – VS, GMA News