Lazada Philippines is committing over P3 billion to expedite e-commerce adoption in Mindanao, as part of the Alibaba-owned platform’s broader efforts to make online shopping more accessible and affordable nationwide, according to chief executive Carlos Otermin Barrera.
“We’re definitely talking about billions of pesos. It may vary depending on the year, but between shipping subsidies, seller support, and infrastructure, it’s more than P2 to 3 billion for sure,” Barrera said in an interview Monday, ahead of the company’s 6.6 mid-year sale event.
The e-commerce giant has laid out a three-pronged strategy to boost Mindanao’s digital economy, beginning with heavy buyer-side investments.
These include lowering delivery costs, which have historically been the highest nationwide, by over ₱40 per shipment and subsidizing promotions and vouchers to attract new users.
“Mindanao has one of the lowest e-commerce penetration rates in the country, and we’re addressing that head-on with aggressive online marketing and sampling campaigns,” Barrera said.
