MANILA, Philippines – Nangako si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na pabibilisin ang digital transformation.
Biniyang diin nito na ang paggamit ng teknolohiya ay hindi lamang para ‘to modernize systems’ kundi para ‘to bridge inequalities’ at ayusin ang buhay ng mga filipino.
Sa pagsasalita sa Manila Tech Summit 2025, binigyang diin ni Pangulong Marcos ang progreso ng bansa, sinabi niya na mahigit sa kalahati ng payment transactions noong 2024 ay ginawa ‘digitally’ dahil sa pagsusulong sa financial technologies ay naging “safer and less burdensome.” ang pagbabayad ng mga bills.
Sinabi pa rin nito na noong 2024 lamang, umabot ang digital economy sa P2.25 trillion, sinasabing 8.5% ang gross domestic product ng bansa at nakalikha ng 11.3 milyong trabaho.
“For Filipinos, digital technology means shorter queues [and] faster transactions. It means ease in paying bills, renewing licenses, and accessing government services. It also means that our farmers can register their products online, teachers can access digital tools, [and] entrepreneurs can sell to larger markets,” ang sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos sa kanyang talumpati na Shangri-La The Fort, Manila sa Taguig City.
“Now this is a good development, but there is much room for growth. We see the greater need to tap the endless possibilities of a truly digital Philippines. We are determined to seize that growth,” aniya pa rin.
Tinukoy naman ni Pangulong Marcos na may ilang government initiatives ang naglalayon na magtatag ng “truly digital Philippines,” kabilang na ang National Fiber Backbone (NFB), na inaasahan na makapagbibigay sa 17 milyong pinoy ng mas mabilis at mas maaasahan na internet sa 2028.
Idinagdag pa nito na ang ganap na rollout ng Philippine Identification System ay maaaring i-streamline ang pag-access sa financial services.
Tinuran pa ni Pangulong Marcos na palalawigin din ng kanyang administrasyon ang Free Wi-Fi for All Program sa mga eskuwelahan upang bigyan ang mga estudyante at mga guro sa mga liblib na lugar ng mas maayos na access sa digital resources.
Gayunman, tanggap ng Pangulo ang panganib na dulot ng rapid technological advancements, gaya ng online scams, pandaraya, at cybersecurity threats.
‘Fraudulent schemes and scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated every day with the aid of artificial intelligence, with digital currencies, and syndicates that know no frontiers. Also, even as artificial intelligence offers breakthroughs, it brings threats of job displacement and the loss of privacy,” ani Pangulong Marcos.
“And this is why we must also strengthen our defenses, manage risks, [and] block malicious attempts before they harm our people,” aniya pa rin.
Tinukoy naman ni Pangulong Marcos ang ilang government interventions gaya ng ‘enactment of laws’ kabilang na ang Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, Internet Transactions Act, at ang Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act.
Nagbabala rin ito sa panganib ng online gambling at nakagagambalang potensiyal ng artificial intelligence, partikular na ang job displacement at privacy concerns.
At para matugunan ang problema, tinuran ni Pangulong Marcos na ang gobyerno ay ‘reskilling and upskilling’ ng mas maraming pinoy, sinanay ang mga ito para sa trabaho sa artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, e-commerce, at creative industries.’
“All of these efforts place technological innovation at the center of our governance. We aim to provide a government where technology is optimized to improve service delivery, efficiency, and transparency,” aniya pa rin.
Hinikayat naman ni Pangulong Marcos ang industry leaders at mga innovators na gawin ang Pilipinas na isang “FinTech innovation hub and a key voice in shaping the global financial system.”
“Because the connected nation that we dream of will only come online if we all choose to build it brick by brick, gigabyte by gigabyte,” ang winika ng Pangulo sabay sabing “We envision a Philippines where every Filipino can reach their full potential and where new technologies open wider possibilities for all.”
Samantala, ang Manila Tech Summit ay may 50 taon na, may posisyong isulong ang Pilipinas bilang mahalagang player sa global fintech ecosystem, tinipon ang 1,300 delegado mula sa mahigit sa 300 organisasyon.
Ang summit, may bitbit na temang “Forging a New Global Order: Risks and Opportunities Redefined, ay inorganisa ng FinTech Alliance.PH, itinuturing na pinakamalaking digital industry association, kumakatawan sa mahigit sa 130 kompanya na nago-operate ng 95% ng digital retail transactions. /Kris Jose
