The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) officially sealed its partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines at the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the OneSTore.ph Project last March 14, 2016 at LANDBANK Head Office, Malate, Manila.

Initiated by DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo and developed by DOST Region 2, OneSTore is an e-commerce web application that provides a marketing platform for DOST- assisted micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) around the Philippines under its Small Enterprise Upgrading Program (SETUP). It offers customers an effortless shopping experience and gives retailers simple and direct access to the largest customer base in the country. 

Under the MOU, LANDBANK will serve as the payment solution system of the OneSTore project through its ePayment Portal which will provide a secure and convenient payment platform while facilitating operational and cost efficiencies for seller-MSMEs.

In his speech delivered by DOST Assistant Secretary and Program Manager for Countryside Development Dr. Urdujah A. Tejada, Sec. Montejo stressed that DOST, as a strong advocate of hastening the country’s transformation of smarter information society through the life-changing power of information and communication technology, is continuously making progressive strands towards creating a platform wherein the nation can greatly benefit.

“The digital world is a booming market and quickly becoming the leading industry for investors. Various projects have been implemented in order to ensure that every Juan and Juana can have the capacity to access the internet and the opportunity to foster personal and economic growth,” Sec. Montejo said.

Meanwhile, LANDBBANK President and CEO Gilda E. Pico mentioned that LANDBANK is grateful for the opportunity to be part of this breakthrough service which provides an online platform for MSMEs to promote and sell their products to both local and international markets.

“Through this partnership, we hope to go a step further than providing financial support by contributing to DOST’s thrust to address another key challenge that Philippine MSMEs contend with- effective marketing- thru technology,” Pico added.

Unlike the traditional marketing system, OneSTore is a 24-hour, easy-access system where the buyers have several options of products, as well as the terms of payment, to choose from, and will be facilitated by a very convenient door-to-door delivery system.

OneSTore addresses the common problem of MSMEs on the lack of adequate budget for their product promotions and marketing. Through the online marketing platform, MSME owners can upload and sell their products.

The said platform will widen the scope of the MSMEs’ target market locally and internationally, help deliver economic growth, and increase their business opportunities, hence its tagline “Reach more, Earn more, Grow more.”

Why LANDBANK?

DOST 2 Regional Director Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang cited that DOST and LANDBANK shares the same goals in different aspects- the reasons why they chose to partner with the said government financial institution.

“DOST and LANDBANK both aim to establish or develop the countryside and have an exclusive growth; capable of going global for our future hubs; possess the necessary technologies for e-banking services wherein we’d like to explore the possibilities of using their systems which are i-Easy Padala, iAccess, and weAccess,” RD Mabborang added. “We are like puzzles; we are like meant to be and fit for each other.”

As of December 2015, LANDBANK remains the biggest lender among government financial institutions, with outstanding loans reaching P57.3 billion. 

LANDBANK, on the other hand, is also interested to take on a bigger role in promoting OneSTore.ph, make it the preferred platform for Filipino entrepreneurs, and explore the expansion possibilities of the online marketing channel where LANDBANK can provide financing support.

“In the future, we can also look into bringing in LANDBANK-assisted MSMEs from across the country to showcase and market their products through OneSTore.PH. Through collaboration, we can align and integrate our efforts towards addressing the requirements of market players across the supply chain,” Pico added.

Prior to LANDBANK, OneSTore has also partnered with Air21 as their official logistics companion cum product courier. OneSTore will cater international transactions as soon as more partners come in.

To date, OneSTore.ph already had about 143 successful transactions worth P530, 000 since its soft launch at the celebration of National Science and Technology Week last July 2015, and is expected to boom in the next months.

For interested buyers and for more information about the OneSTore Project, you can visit their website at www.onestore.ph. (Text by Romelie Janelle Maranan, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)


(Seated from left) LANDBANK Card & E-Banking Group First Vice President/Head Randolph L. Montesa, DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo represented by DOST Assistant Secretary Dr. Urdujah A. Tejada, LANDBANK President and CEO Gilda E. Pico, and LANDBANK Branch Banking Sector Officer-in-Charge and South NCR Branches Group Head Ramon R. Monteloyola sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the OneSTore.ph Project last March 14 at LANDBANK Head Office, Malate, Manila.


The symbolic turn-over of OneSTore.ph products to the board members of LANDBANK.


DOST 2 Regional Director Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang discusses the OneSTore Project. (Photos by Gerardo G. Palad, S&T Media Service, DOST-STIII)