THE Philippines stands out as one of the rapidly advancing digital economies, driven by continuous innovation within the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Understanding how promoting technology can hasten inclusive and sustainable growth in the country was recently revealed by a research paper released by the Tech for Good Institute.
This comprehensive study engaged over 130 participants from various sectors, including government agencies, digital economy companies (DECs), think tanks, and civil society organizations from Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
“When impact is the driving purpose of technology, there is much scope to align innovation with the developmental goals of the country and region. The key trend that the Tech for Good Institute (TGFI) is seeing is the broadening of priorities for digitalization beyond economic value creation. The potential of technology must be managed in a more proactive and collaborative manner to ensure an inclusive, equitable and sustainable future for all,” Dr. Ming Tan, Founding Executive Director of TFGI noted.
The initiative received support from the AsiaTechX Programme Office and the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore. The primary question addressed was how these influential stakeholders envisioned the next phase of digital transformation for their respective countries and the region as a whole. During the research presentation and dialogue held on September 22, 2023, conducted by the TFGI , a regional think-tank, in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Management Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness. The central theme of this event revolved around TFGI’s latest research paper titled “From Tech for Growth to Tech for Good.”
The study yielded a consensus among these nations that the future of Southeast Asia, both at the regional and national levels, hinges on collaborative efforts to nurture inclusive, equitable, climate-resilient, and sustainable growth. This growth is to be facilitated by the digital economy, the integration of online-to-offline (O2O) economies, increased innovation, and heightened startup activity.
Echoing sentiments expressed across the region, Filipino stakeholders have identified two common pillars for harnessing technology to foster sustainable growth.
Firstly, innovation must span technical, technological, business model, and governance levels. Comprehensive innovation is essential for nurturing an enabling ecosystem that promotes growth while safeguarding citizens, society, and national interests.
Secondly, this innovation must be accompanied by the development of a confident digital society, ensuring safety, resilience, and inclusive benefits for all.
For the Philippines, stakeholders underscored the importance facilitating affordable, high-quality internet access across the entire archipelago; establishing a national ICT skills roadmap and capacity-building to enable meaningful participation in the digital economy; reaching out to traditionally underserved populations, including rural communities, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities; building trust in emerging technologies through effective governance, such as implementing verified digital identities for all citizens; encouraging impactful investment and innovation through innovation sandboxes and a review of the national IP strategy; and promoting evidence-based research to inform policymaking and fostering open communication channels among the public, private, and people sectors for input into regulation.
The research presentation was followed by a dialogue with Senator Grace Poe, Grace Vera Cruz, Country Head, Grab Philippines; Winsley Bangit, Vice-President of New Businesses, Mynt; John Rubio Country Director, Meta Philippines; and Prim Paypon, Executive Director, AIM–Dado Banatao Incubator. The event was moderated by Dr. Tan.
Senator Grace Poe shared the important role of the government in the digital ecosystem, “As we move forward, the government must play a supporting role in our mission of digital inclusion. This entails not only building an enabling environment, but also modernizing our analogue legislation and constructing a legal environment that nurtures innovation, rather than one that stifles it.”
“Engaging regional partners like TFGI in continuous dialogue on how to adapt the newest technologies to the specific needs and particular context of a labor-abundant, emerging economy like the Philippines allows us to learn from various country experiences and best practices across industries. It also fosters a collaborative environment for win-win growth and development,” Dr. Jamil Paolo Francisco commented.
The Tech for Good Institute serves the entire innovation ecosystem across Southeast Asia as a platform and catalyst for dialogue, research and collaboration. However, insights must be grounded in local context and to this end, we are grateful for the opportunity to work with Asian Institute of Management-Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness and in the Philippines with partners from the public, private and civil sector,” Dr. Tan concluded.
