DICT targets to create 8M digital jobs by 2028
On Saturday, the DICT said it had launched the ''Trabahong Digital'' program, which seeks to expand internet connectivity across the country and equip Filipinos with digital skills.
'Driving the digital-first economy will maximize job opportunities and business growth through digital skills empowerment and by providing our people with the tools they need to succeed,' DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said.
The DICT expressed confidence in achieving its job creation target by 2028, with the help of active partnerships with the government, academic institutions, and the private sector. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
12 hours ago
- GMA Network
Higala-RCBC tie up onboards 8 rural banks to InstaPay
In an effort to expand the digital footprint of rural banks, the partnership between Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and homegrown instant payments infrastructure provider Higala Group Inc. has onboarded eight rural banks across the country to InstaPay. Higala and RCBC have jointly created Synerfi, an open payments platform that reduces barriers and accelerates the participation of smaller financial institutions in InstaPay. The companies developed Synerfi to help rural banks as well as microfinance institutions expand their digital transactions through InstaPay as 'traditionally, many rural and community banks have been excluded from the digital financial ecosystem due to regulatory and technological constraints.' Among the onboarded rural banks in Synerfi include Rural Bank of San Antonio Inc., Rural Bank of Lipa City (Batangas), Inc., Progressive Rural Bank Inc., Banco Abucay Inc., Rural Bank of Hermosa (Bataan) Inc., Money Mall Rural Bank Inc., First Philippine Partners Bank Inc. (A Rural Bank), and Lagawe Highlands Rural Bank, Inc. 'This marks the beginning of empowering the underserved banking sector by enabling them to offer digital banking services that are otherwise available only to mainstream and traditional banks,' said Winston Damarillo, president and CEO of Higala. "Connecting rural banks to Instapay and the wider digital ecosystem is not simply an act of digitalization, but a deeper commitment to accelerate financial inclusion in underserved areas. SynerFi continues to demonstrate its promise to drive financial access beyond urban areas and materialize the government's sustainable agenda," said Lito Villanueva, executive vice president and chief innovation and inclusion officer of RCBC. "RCBC is excited to welcome more participants with the shared mission to make banking services accessible to all Filipinos into the instant payment ecosystem," Villanueva added. The RCBC official said the bank and Higala are 'targeting 40 rural banks to be onboarded.' Under their partnership, Higala is providing the technology to operationalize SynerFi while RCBC is acting as the sponsor platform bank and manage the essential regulatory requirements, such as compliance, clearing, and settlement. 'SynerFi seeks to empower rural banks like Rural Bank of San Antonio to access world-class digital banking capabilities. Launching these services with zero capital intensity and without the heavy burden of building dedicated in-house tech and compliance teams is invaluable, enabling us to offer customers top-tier technology and services, truly digitizing our reach.' said Ronaldo Recto, president of the Rural Bank of San Antonio. Meanwhile, Higala also secured a fresh seed funding of $4 million from venture capitalists Talino Venture Studios, Chemonics International, Kadan Capital, Tenco Capital, and 1982 Ventures. 'Fresh funds from our investors will help accelerate Higala's capabilities of powering SynerFi and helping more financial institutions grow and expand their services to their customers and become active players in the digital economy,' Damarilio said. 'After successfully raising our target seed funding of $2.8 million, we've expanded our round to $4 million due to increased interest in Higala and signaling investor confidence in our product,' said Chemonics International president and CEO Jamey Butcher. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
12 hours ago
- GMA Network
PEZA books P72-B investment pledges in H1 2025
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has approved over P72 billion worth of investment commitments in the first half of 2025. In a statement on Wednesday, PEZA said it booked P72.362 billion in investment pledges from January to June 2025, up 59.1% from P45.481 billion recorded in the first semester of 2024. The investment promotion agency attributed the growth in approved investment commitments to its 'proactive stance' in facilitating ease of doing business and improving investor confidence as it aligns its strategies with the Marcos administration's socio-economic goals. 'This continued surge in investments affirms PEZA's role as a vital engine for economic growth and job creation for the country,' said PEZA Director General Tereso Panga. 'We are reaping the fruits of our aggressive promotion efforts, investor-centric reforms, and continued commitment to making the Philippines a competitive and resilient hub for global industries. The confidence shown by both new and existing investors is a strong signal that our ecozones are thriving and open for business,' Panga added. PEZA said it approved 133 projects during the January to June 2025 period, up 10.83% from 120 projects approved in the same period of 2024. The agency said the approved projects are seen to generate 32,983 direct jobs for Filipinos, up 30.58% from the 25,259 job generation projection in the first half of 2024. PEZA said South Koreans were the biggest investors in the first half of the year, followed by Americans, Chinese, Dutch, and Japanese. In terms of sectoral investments, manufacturing of food and beverage products topped the list, followed by ecozone development and IT-BPM. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
18 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos launches P20 per kilo of rice in Bacoor, Cavite
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. watch as vendors at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo sell rice at P20 per kilo in Bacoor, Cavite on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. MPC Pool President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the launch of the P20 per kilo of rice in Bacoor, Cavite. Marcos witnessed the selling of rice with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. at the Zapote Public Market. Those who can avail of the P20 per kilo of rice are those from the vulnerable sector, including beneficiaries of the 4Ps, senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents. Each buyer can avail of five to 10 kilos of rice. The President earlier explained why it took time for him to fulfill his campaign promise of P20 per kilo of rice, noting that the government needs to provide assistance first to the local farmers, including the provision of machinery. The Department of Agriculture (DA) initially implemented the sale of rice at P20 per kilo in the Visayas region. According to the DA, Marcos wants it to be implemented across the country in the long run. The second phase, which will commence this month, will be in the Mindanao region. The rice sold in Kadiwa centers is subsidized by the government through the Food Terminal Inc. The DA is aiming to sustain the program until the end of Marcos' term in June 2028, potentially covering up to 15 million households, or approximately 60 million Filipinos. —KG, GMA Integrated News
