BY EDISON JOSEPH GONZALES
The government and business community are stepping up efforts to accelerate the country’s digital transformation, aiming to close what leaders describe as a widening gap in global competitiveness.
At the center of this push is the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), which will convene its 51st Philippine Business Conference and Expo on Oct. 20-21 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. The annual gathering will bring together senior government officials, corporate executives, and technology leaders to outline a coordinated national strategy for digital modernization.
“This year’s conference is a strategic launchpad,” said Consul Enunina Mangio, president of the PCCI. “It’s more than discussion; it’s an immersive, hands-on showcase designed to equip every Filipino business with the insights and connections to future-proof their operations and ensure no one is left behind.”
The sense of urgency is underscored by the Philippines’ ranking of 61st out of 67 economies in the 2024 IMD World Digital Competitiveness Report. While the country has made progress in areas such as e-commerce and artificial intelligence policy, it continues to lag in infrastructure and digital skills development.
“Ready or not, we must move decisively toward digital transformation to keep pace with the world,” said Dennis Anthony Uy, who chairs the conference. “We will demystify technology and present real solutions for real business problems, bringing together voices from every sector – public, private, startups, and the next generation.”
Vice President Sara Duterte is set to open the two-day event with a keynote address urging a unified national push toward digital readiness.
She will be joined by several cabinet officials, including Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rhoel Aguda, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez.
Themed “The Future Is Now: Unleash the Power of Digital Transformation,” the conference will also feature a roster of global technology leaders.
Among them are Yuwon Kim, chief executive of Naver Cloud Corp.; Lin Shi-Hao, head of Foxconn’s Southeast Asian Region Headquarters; Kenneth Siow, regional director for Tencent Cloud International; and Reo Shoji, bid director at FPT IS Global.
Local industry figures – including Globe Telecom’s Carl Raymond Cruz, Huawei Philippines’ Arnie Alvarez, Fintech Alliance PH chair Lito Villanueva, and Go Negosyo founder Jose Maria Concepcion III – will discuss how domestic enterprises can adapt international technologies to drive inclusive growth.
Organizers said the conference aims to move beyond policy dialogue by offering live demonstrations of emerging tools and digital solutions for businesses of all sizes, from small enterprises to large conglomerates.
“This is about ensuring that every enterprise, large or small, can take part in the digital economy,” Mangio said.
Among those moderating discussions will be broadcast journalists Pinky Webb, Maiki Oreta, and Willard Cheng, alongside Eduardo Sumulong, president and chief executive of Land Registration Systems Inc., and Imelda Ceniza Tiongson, president and chief executive of Opal Portfolio Investments Inc.
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