CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (02 December 2025)— Leading superapp Grab Philippines launched the Grab Asenso: Digital Diskarte Program at the Country Village Hotel in Cagayan de Oro, Nov. 26. This flagship public-private initiative will help bolster the city’s position as the South’s emerging ‘Smart City’.

First launched in Angeles City and then Cavite, Baguio, Bohol, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Bacolod, the program aims to equip local entrepreneurs with “digital diskarte.”

The program integrates mobile-first AI and cashless payment tools within the GrabMerchant app. It also includes educational initiatives such as the Digital Marketing and AI Learning Caravan attended by local entrepreneurs.

Paula Catanghal, Grab Philippines deputy head for cities, shares: “With Grab Asenso, we are putting the power of the digital economy directly into the hands of every…entrepreneur. By democratizing access to AI and mobile-first tools, we transform technology from a privilege into a daily ‘digital diskarte’…”

𝗔 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀

The launch of Grab Asenso comes at a time when local businesses are rapidly embracing digitalization. According to recent data on the Grab platform, 8 out of 10 of the total merchant community on the GrabFood platform in Cagayan de Oro are Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) – a robust cohort of Filipino entrepreneurs that leverage the reach, data, and tech of the Grab ecosystem for their sustainable business growth.

Bernie Deatras, who represented Cagayan De Oro Mayor Klarex Uy, reaffirmed the City’s commitment to empowering MSMEs through innovation and took pride in helping build a strong, inclusive digital ecosystem for local entrepreneurs.

“Digitalization is not just a trend — it’s a game changer. It opens new markets, improves efficiency and equips businesses to compete in today’s fast-changing world,” he said.

The local government, through Deatras, commended Grab for “championing a future where every MSME — big or small, rural or urban — has the tools and opportunities to succeed.”

The Department of Information, Communications and Technology (DICT) echoed the Mayor’s sentiments calling the Digital Diskarte initiative, “not just a training but an equalizer that levels the playing field, opens doors and gives our MSMEs access to tools, platforms and knowledge that once belonged only to big corporations,” Sittie Rahma Alawi, DICT Region X Director pointed out in a videotaped message addressed to the chefs, business owners, and store leads who joined the learning caravan.

“Your DICT stands with you — not just as a government agency but as a partner in your growth, because you deserve not just to participate in the digital economy, you deserve to thrive in it,” said.

𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗽

Cagayan de Oro’s recent recognition as a 2024 ‘Digital Champion’ validates its leadership in digital transformation.

Through the Asenso Learning Caravan held in partnership with local government and DICT, MSMEs are upskilled through specialized modules on Digital Marketing, In-App Awareness Campaigns, and practical AI applications.

Beyond training, Grab is equipping small businesses with advanced mobile technology. This includes Merchant AI Assistant, an intelligent co-pilot designed to optimize day-to-day operations like menu listing and promotion creation.

Additionally, Grab introduced Tap & Scan to Pay, a merchant payment solution that transforms the Grab Merchant app into a payment channel — enabling even the smallest neighborhood stalls to seamlessly accept credit cards and QR PH payments right in their mobile phones.

“Our belief is simple: Digital readiness is prosperity…” Catanghal added. “By bringing Grab Asenso to CDO, we are helping turn the city’s impressive digital infrastructure into tangible livelihood opportunities for every Kagay-anon merchant and driver.”

#𝑨𝑫𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑻𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑨𝑳 | 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒚 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒃 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔.