Google to aid MSMEs in PH, train kids on proper use of digital tech

FILE PHOTO: The Google logo is pictured atop an office building in Irvine, California, U.S. August 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States — Tech giant Google has vowed to assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines, aside from training over 100,000 children and parents about the proper use of digital technology.

Google’s Global Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy Karan Bhatia mentioned this to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during their meeting on Thursday (Eastern time), information of which were sent by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Friday.

READ: Trilateral event at Indo-Pacific forum to eye Luzon corridor investments

According to Bhatia, they have partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to equip MSMEs with the proper skills to thrive in a more competitive landscape.

“I would flag the work we do with small and medium-sized businesses. So this is  with the DTI.  It’s to  enable small businesses to get a presence online and figure out how do they connect with the rest of the world,” Bhatia said.

Among the programs that Google has started with DTI is the provision of Google Career Certificates (GCC) within the department’s virtual campuses, covering over 1,300 DTI Negosyo Centers in 16 regions across the country.

This is aside from the 40,000 GCC scholarships that Google previously distributed to “Filipino youths, jobseekers, MSMEs entrepreneurs, and civil servants with in-demand skills in project management, cybersecurity, IT support, data analytics, UX design, and digital marketing”.

READ: Leaders agree on PH-Japan exercises within Indo-Pacific in 2025 

Also, Google vowed to train over 100,000 children and their parents on responsible use of digital technology, as young people become more vulnerable to online crimes and scams with the accessibility of the internet.

“Because kids are often online for a long period of time and we need to make sure that they know how to use the technology.  So, we thus far engage in training for 100,000 Filipino kids and are going to continue to grow that as well,” he said.

Marcos’ meeting with the Google executives came after the trilateral summit between the Philippines, the United States (US), and Japan.  It was attended by US President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the White House, where measures to improve economic cooperation and interoperability in terms of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

In the joint statement from Marcos, Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, they announced that trilateral maritime exercises would start in 2025 to ensure security in the region.