Grab launches Grab Asenso: A Digital Diskarte Program to accelerate regional MSME digitalization in the Philippines
Grab Asenso, the flagship public–private program of the Philippines’ leading superapp, is endorsed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and partner city governments. In the program, mobile-first upskilling meets new merchant tools – from an AI co-pilot to cashless acceptance on any NFC phone – so small businesses can market, sell, and thrive in the digital economy.
Grab today launched Grab Asenso: A Digital Diskarte Program, a nationwide push to speed up the digital shift of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) outside Metro Manila. The program combines a multi-city Learning Caravan with the rollout of mobile-first merchant tools inside the GrabMerchant app, giving entrepreneurs practical skills and plug-and-play infrastructure to grow online.
MSMEs are the backbone of Philippine commerce – 99.59% of all establishments and roughly 65% of jobs – yet many are still early in their digital journey. The country’s shift to cash-lite is now mainstream — 57.4% of retail payments by volume and 59% by value were digital in 2024, driven by QR PH and instant transfers – making merchant readiness urgent for inclusive growth.
Grab Philippines Vice President for Cities CJ Lacsican, together with representatives from the Angeles City LGU, DICT, and the local merchant community, officially launched Grab Asenso: A Digital Diskarte Program. [L–R] Kuya Jeck’s Tapsilogan owner Ronnie Casupanan, DICT Pampanga Provincial Head Engr. Jonathan Solis, Grab PH Regional Manager for Northern Luzon Joe Mangiliman, Angeles City Vice Mayor Amos Rivera, Grab PH Vice President for Cities CJ Lacsican, Morgen Kaffee owners Miguel and Micaela Evangelista, and Grab PH Country Communications Head Arvi Lopez.
Supported by the local government units, DICT Regional Office, and Grab merchant-partners, the inaugural leg kicked off in Angeles City and will expand to Cavite, Baguio, Bohol, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cagayan de Oro in the coming months.
Grab Philippines Vice President for Cities CJ Lacsican shares, “Progress happens when every entrepreneur, regardless of business size, can fully participate in the digital economy. Grab Asenso goes beyond seminars. We pair hands-on, mobile-based learning with ready-to-use tools–marketing, payments, logistics, and an AI-copilot–-so MSMEs can find consumers, run leaner operations, and scale their business faster. When small businesses thrive, supply chains strengthen, jobs multiply, and local economies become more vibrant and more resilient.”
The Grab Asenso Program has also earned the endorsement of the DICT, with Director of the ICT Industry Development Bureau Emmy Lou Versoza-Delfin underscoring the program’s alignment with the agency’s digital livelihood agenda. “The Department of Information and Communications Technology is deeply honored and excited to be a part of the Grab Asenso Learning Caravan. This initiative is more than just an event; it’s a testament to our shared belief in the power of digital technology to transform lives and build a brighter future for the Philippines. Grab Asenso is a powerful display of digital bayanihan — a modern-day take on our cherished tradition of community cooperation. The DICT and our valued private sector partners like Grab have come together to bridge the digital divide and bring opportunities directly to your doorstep.
