A youth-focused roundtable discussion, entitled “Charting the Philippines’ Digital Progress”, was held in Manila on 23 July 2025 to explore the essential elements for fostering a confident and inclusive digital economy in the Philippines. The event convened 15 young leaders—including students, entrepreneurs, educators, creative professionals, and policy thinkers—to openly discuss the factors that build trust, opportunity, and resilience, thereby shaping a digital future for all Filipinos.
One concept that stood out in the discussion was “Diskarte”—the Filipino spirit of resourcefulness, strategic thinking, and determination. The participants embraced this mindset, demonstrating a deep sense of responsibility for forging the country’s digital future. Their insights served as a powerful reminder that the digital economy shapes every sector and every community—and that to advance, the Philippines must ensure this diversity of voices is heard and reflected in both policy and action.
Key takeaways:
1. Bridging the gap between education and workforce needs
There was a strong consensus among the participants about the disconnect between current education and workforce demands. Only around 40% of Filipinos possess even one of the six ICT skills tracked under the SDGs, placing the country behind regional peers. To accelerate the Philippines’ progress in the digital age, the participants emphasised the need for practical competencies—ranging from AI literacy, financial understanding, and digital safety to essential soft skills such as communication and design thinking.
The participants therefore advocated for national frameworks on lifelong learning that align education with workforce needs, alongside stronger government–industry collaboration to close the education-to-employment gap and prepare Filipinos for the future of work.
2. Online safety and trust are shared responsibilities
The participants highlighted the gap between regulation and the real-life risks faced in the digital world. From scams and fake news to unlicensed “financial advisors,” many Filipinos are left to navigate these threats without adequate knowledge—often with painful consequences.
Participants drew a powerful analogy: traffic systems work because rules, risks, and responsibilities are clear to all. They argued that the digital space must function the same way. This means implementing clearer regulatory mechanisms, fostering proactive public–private cooperation on safety standards, and embedding digital citizenship education from the earliest stages of learning.
In the online world, trust must be built by design—with transparent standards and shared accountability among government, industry, and citizens—to ensure that everyone is protected.
3. Adequate access and meaningful participation in the digital economy to build confidence
Beyond improving education and regulation, bridging the digital divide is critical to building confidence in the Philippines’ digital economy. Nearly 40% of households in the country still lack reliable internet access, and fixed‑broadband coverage was just 28% in 2023—compared to Vietnam’s 79% and Malaysia’s 54%. This stark difference reflects a gap that limits the ability of many Filipinos, particularly those in rural areas and marginalised communities, to access opportunities and participate fully in the digital economy.
In response to these gaps, participants highlighted existing efforts by the Philippine Government, such as the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, which aims to modernise digital infrastructure policies by expanding connectivity and bridging the digital divide. They emphasised that such reforms must be implemented with equity and safeguards, ensuring that every community benefits from legislative modernisation and is empowered to shape the nation’s digital future.
4. Adequate access and meaningful participation in digital economy to build confidence
Besides improving education and regulation, bridging the digital divide is critical to building confidence in the Philippines digital economy. Nearly 40 percent of households in the Philippines still lack reliable internet access, and fixed‑broadband coverage was just 28 percent in 2023, compared to Vietnam’s 79 percent and Malaysia’s 54 percent. This stark difference reflects a gap that limits the ability of many Filipinos, particularly those in rural areas and marginalised communities, to access opportunities and participate fully in the digital economy.
In response to these gaps, participants highlighted existing efforts by the Philippine Government, such as the “Konektadong Pinoy Bill” which aims to modernise the existing digital infrastructure policies by expanding connectivity and bridging the digital divide. They emphasised that such reforms must be implemented with equity and safeguards, ensuring that every community benefits from legislative modernisation and is empowered to shape the nation’s digital future.
In conclusion, the participants made it clear that building a resilient digital economy for the Philippines demands more than technology: it requires skills, safety, policy alignment and inclusive governance.
Conclusion
Building a resilient digital economy for the Philippines demands more than technology: it requires skills, safety, policy alignment, and inclusive governance.
“Diskarte” is more than a mindset—it is a driving force. Young Filipinos are poised to lead with their strategic thinking and determination to shape a brighter future. With the right resources and enabling frameworks, and investments in lifelong skills and trust-and-safety mechanisms, the Philippines can transform its digital potential into equitable and sustainable progress for all.
