The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure group recently took giant strides in fulfilling its mandate of bridging the digital divide through the promotion of digital literacy and the building of a sustainable digital ecosystem through the launch of the GoDigital Pilipinas (GDP) movement last January 30th.

At the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) public forum “From Plan to Action: Philippine Development Plan 2023 – 2028” held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the GoDigital Pilipinas movement’s launch concretized PSAC’s vision of empowering Filipino citizens through technology for a connected and inclusive society.

The PSAC is composed of business leaders and experts across six main sectoral groups (agriculture, digital infrastructure, jobs, healthcare, build-build-build, and tourism). As a more specialized part of the council, the PSAC Digital Infrastructure group was formed to provide the government with practical recommendations that promote wider Internet access and advance digitization initiatives.

“PSAC Digital Infrastructure is ready to support the nation’s development blueprint and digitalization agenda through the GoDigital Pilipinas (GDP) movement. Working together, the public and private sector will ensure that every Filipino has the tools and the skills to thrive in our revitalized society,” said PSAC Digital Infrastructure Sector Lead Henry Aguda.

For developing digital skills and capabilities though upskilling, the movement will focus on sectors of society that would need specialized training and mentoring that is tailored to their particular needs. Drawing from the success of various public and private sector digital upskilling initiatives, rural workers, who number more that 10 million nationwide, the elderly, persons deprived of liberty, indigenous people, as well as the differently abled are just some of the groups that the movement intends to tap.

As the Chief Technology Operations and Chief Transformation Officer of UnionBank, Aguda brings to the table his experience and expertise in spearheading the Bank’s digital transformation. Harnessing his experience and applying this to nationwide digital upskilling is consistent with the Bank’s advocacy to Tech Up Pilipinas through financial and digital inclusivity.

Leveraging the expertise and resources of the private sector, the GoDigital Pilipinas Movement complements the public sector’s digital initiatives through the five-PACES plan: (1) the creation of Policies and programs that promote the development of digital infrastructure and services; (2) the expansion of Access to digital technologies and digital literacy training to all citizens; (3) the development of digital skills and Capabilities; (4) the promotion of digital Entrepreneurship and innovation; and (5) the Security of digital rights and privacy.

The GoDigital Pilipinas Movement is convened by PSAC-Digital Infrastructure Sector, led by Henry Aguda together with other corporate digital transformation champions Dennis Anthony Uy, Al Panlilio, Ernest Cu, and Ramon Jocson. It will collaborate with TESDA, and the Inter-Agency Council on Philippine Digital Workforce for its upskilling initiatives.

Initial supporters and convenors of the movement include the following organizations: Abogadong Pinoy, Blockchain Council of the Philippines, CIO Forum Foundation, FINEX, Fintech Philippines Association, Gabay Guro, IBPAP, ICD, ISC2, ISOG, MAP, PBA, ULI Philippines, Aboitiz Foundation, Bitskwela, Metaverse Ventures, Mwell Philippines, Hapag Movement, Tahanang Walang Hagdanan. Through the GoDigital Pilipinas Movement’s launch, it is hoped that greater support from the private and public sectors support will snowball further.