MANILA, Philippines — The buildup of digital infrastructure can only be achieved if the Philippines has investment-friendly policies and if workers possess the skills that would support and sustain this transition, advocacy groups said.
This was the consensus from the virtual business roundtable, “Promoting Broad-Based Prosperity Through Digital Infrastructure,” organized by The Stratbase Group in partnership with consumer group CitizenWatch Philippines.
Stratbase Group president Dindo Manhit said the Philippines needs both skills and business investments on every level – from the micro, small, and medium enterprises – to transform ourselves into a new digital society.
“We need industries and services to grow stronger, we need manufacturing to grow stronger,” he said. “At the core of these is digital infrastructure.”
But he stressed it would take a lot to encourage investments, both from domestic and foreign sources.
“We need confidence in our systems, we need legal frameworks like the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investment Act. These are the initiatives that will drive growth,” he said.
Manhit added that building investor confidence is all about building the policy environment to sustain investment-led growth.
“Government should transform its policy to work better with the private sector to transform the Philippines into a digitally ready society – from infra to systems, the use of other technologies, to push the economy forward.”
Globe Telecom president and CEO Ernest Cu said the pandemic showed how crucial digital technology and ICT are in daily life.