Microfinance institution Taytay Sa Kauswagan, Inc. (TSKI) has engaged PLDT Inc.'s corporate business arm, PLDT Enterprise, to strengthen connectivity across its branch network as it works to expand financial services to underserved communities in the Philippines.

TSKI said connectivity issues at some of its locations had begun affecting communication, operational efficiency, and service delivery to members, prompting the institution to look for a technology partner capable of addressing these challenges.

Under the partnership, PLDT Enterprise will provide fixed and wireless connectivity solutions intended to support branch operations, member transactions, and internal communications across TSKI's network.

"Connectivity becomes most meaningful when it helps organizations do more for the people they serve. Our partnership with TSKI is about giving its teams a stronger digital foundation so they can operate more efficiently, communicate more effectively, and continue extending accessible financial services to communities across the country," PLDT Enterprise Vice-President for Domestic Enterprise Javier C. Lagdameo said in a media release issued Monday.

TSKI, a microfinance institution serving underserved markets, said the connectivity upgrade forms part of broader efforts to support its expanding operations.

"The collaboration is intended to enable high-speed and reliable branch connectivity, faster member transactions and communications, and more dependable day-to-day operations," the institution said.

Microfinance institutions such as TSKI provide small loans, savings, and other basic financial services to low-income households and microenterprises that often lack access to traditional banking. Reliable telecommunications infrastructure is widely regarded as a foundational requirement for such institutions, as branch networks depend on stable connections to process transactions, verify client records, and coordinate operations across dispersed locations.

The partnership aligns with broader efforts in the Philippines to widen financial inclusion, an area the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has identified as a policy priority through initiatives promoting digital payments and greater access to formal financial services.

PLDT Enterprise is the business-to-business unit of PLDT Inc., one of the Philippines' largest telecommunications companies, offering connectivity, digital infrastructure, and managed services to corporate and institutional clients.

At the local bourse on Monday, shares in PLDT fell by P6, or 0.52%, to close at P1,140 apiece.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., holds a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group. — Ashley Erika O. Jose