Gov’t, private firms must team up to build a sustainable digital economy – think tank founder
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MANILA, Philippines — The government and private firms should get into more partnership projects in the move towards a sustainable digital economy, according to Dindo Manhit, the founder, CEO, and managing director of Stratbase Group, an advisory and research consultancy group.
“Government and the private sector must work together to identify, analyze, and find the best strategies for the digital transformation of all sectors in a policy environment that will foster a digital economy with thriving industries that are globally competitive and sustainable,” Manhit said in his address at the “Empowering Communities Through Technology,” an online forum staged on July 28 by the Leauge of Cities of the Philippines (LCP).
“Technology, infrastructure, and tools can be developed and purchased. However, this must be matched with talent and the next generation of skills that can wield the power of technology,” he added.
“Digital readiness is about the people’s readiness. A people-centric approach that harnesses the benefits of digital technologies as power tools to prosper in an evolving digital revolution,” Manhit went on.
He further stressed the importance of being open to the opportunities presented by various technologies.
“To leverage the opportunities of digital technologies for public health and the economy, there must be openness to continuous innovation of processes and policies to create an environment that has been liberated from defunct models of governance and stagnant regulations,” he said.
Globe network expansion
Meanwhile, Vince Tempongko, vice President for Site Acquisition and Management of Globe Telecom, said that in 2021, Globe would increase its capacity and expand its network with 2,000 new sites — investing P70 billion, or about 40 percent of its revenues.
“The effects of this pandemic particularly in the advancement of digital adoption will definitely stay and affect the way we work, study, and promote awareness campaigns,” Tempongko said.
“Assessing our readiness as a country is vital in identifying gaps in order to move forward,” he said.
On the other hand, Mayor Antonio Joseph Inton of Hermosa, Bataan, believes that technology and online learning should be integrated into the country’s education system even beyond the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With fast advancements in education and communications technology, our children need to catch up with science engineering, and technology of STEM, and we as leaders need to formulate concrete steps to translate policies into workable solutions,” Inton said.
“Eventually, after the pandemic, education should be a combination of classroom and online learning. I believe that e-learning and digital learning is key to achieve real change in our educational system, and for our youth to be globally competitive,” he added.
Inton said that current efforts to fill the gaps in the education system would need the support of other policymakers like the Department of Education and the private sector, which could be integral in empowering livelihood through technology and digital solutions.
