When it comes to Science and Technology innovation, the Philippines is well positioned to take the lead in the ASEAN thanks to several recent developments.
This was the overall consensus reached at a recent panel discussion held in Makati organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Digital Pilipinas, now the largest private sector-led movement focused on creating an innovative and technology ecosystem.
In partnering with the DOST, Digital Pilipinas also highlighted its commitment to fully establishing the Philippines as the science and technology Bridgeway to ASEAN and to the world.
Photo shows Dr. Leah Buendia, DOST Undersecretary; Robertson Chiang, Founder and CEO of Dragonpay; Josephine Romero, Founding Director of PropTech Consortium of the Philippines; Jennifer Subang, VP for Operations of AgriDOM; Vanessa Pastor-Ledesma, Digital Pilipinas Special Advisor for ASEAN Trade Programs; and Amor Maclang, Digital Pilipinas Convenor, after a sit-down meeting with other industry leaders to learn how the ASEAN Digital Economies framework can help grow their businesses.
With the theme, “The Philippines as the Science and Technology Bridgeway to ASEAN and the World,” the event was attended by business leaders and stakeholders from top industries in the Philippines who have come together to talk about the country’s potential as a science and technology innovation hub.
According to Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, the Philippines is poised to be a top performer in innovation. “The Philippines has been a beacon of innovation in the heart of Southeast Asia, ranking 56th among the 132 economies featured in the Global Innovation Index 2023,” she said in a pre-recorded speech. “This is a product of the country’s focused efforts in propelling economic development by continuously investing in science, technology, and innovation (STI) programs and projects.”
Amor Maclang, Digital Pilipinas Convenor, supported Ambassador Quintana’s statement, saying, “Many countries support the Philippines and its goal to become a digital and investment gateway to the world.” And in this regard, both agree that the Philippines is in a good starting place.
“We are working together to leverage our strengths by hosting events such as the Digital Pilipinas Festival and the Philippine Fintech Festival, which are set to take place from November 20 to 24, 2023,” Maclang continued. “The Digital Pilipinas Festival is a celebration of Filipino ingenuity, the power of technology to solve our problems, and is a collaborative effort between multiple organizations.”
Excellent right from the start
H.E. Quintana was one of the keynote speakers at the event, along with Dr. Leah Buendia, Undersecretary for Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). They were joined by a guest of honor, H.E. Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the panelists included Robertson Chiang, Founder, CEO, and CTO of Dragonpay; Vanessa Pastor-Ledesma, Special Advisor for ASEAN Trade Programs – Digital Pilipinas; Josephine Romero, Senior Advisor of ABAC Philippines and Founding Director of PropTech Consortium of the Philippines; and Jennifer Subang, Vice President for Operations of AgriDOM.
One key initiative is the DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (DOST-SETUP). Dr. Leah J. Buendia of the DOST says that this program is best described as “a nationwide strategy that encourages and assists micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt technological innovations to improve their products, services, operations, productivity, and competitiveness.”
“It provides technology, productivity improvement assistance, and repayable funds for three years,” she explained in her keynote speech. “MSMEs that are not eligible for DOST-SETUP can avail of the Science and Technology Program, which helps small communities in disadvantaged areas.”
Meanwhile, H. E. Abdul Malik, in his keynote speech, stated, “Malaysia and the Philippines are committed to strengthening ties, particularly in the digital economy. Collaboration between high-tech companies can create synergies that benefit all sides.”
He also emphasized the need to prioritize the halal economy as well as the new digital economy on both sides of any partnership, saying, “The digital economy holds immense potential for both countries, and strategic partnerships can lead to unparalleled advancements and prosperity.”
State of the Innovation Nation
Many top industry players are aware of where they slot in when it comes to helping the Philippines realize the goal of digitalization and becoming a Science and Technology Bridgeway.
Josephine Romero, Senior Advisor of ABAC Philippines and the Founding Director of PropTech Consortium of the Philippines, says that at least for her, it has all been part of a years-long effort.
“Since 2017, we have been pushing for MSME development, especially in shared economies and digital activities,” Romero said. “We have also been working with local government units and other agencies to help small farmholders and fisher folk. We aim to build momentum towards our chairmanship and help MSMEs become part of the value chain.”
Meanwhile, Tomas Pastor, a.k.a. Sultan Dimasangkay ko Ranao, recalled his pioneering efforts to uplift farm workers down in Mindanao. “We are working with the National Government to obtain funding and equipment to support farmers, thousands of hectares of land, and supplies,” he began. “Cooperation is essential to help finance farmers, especially in priority areas like BARMM.”
His daughter Vanessa Pastor-Ledesma, Special Advisor for ASEAN Trade Programs at Digital Pilipinas, found a similar opportunity and has been an advocate ever since. “Entrepreneurship starts with food, which is one of the easiest ventures to launch,” she said during the discussion.
“By supporting local food entrepreneurs, we can improve food security and agriculture, protect our future, and champion small food businesses and MSMEs,” she added.
Next steps toward disruption
Robertson Chiang, Founder, CEO, and CTO at Dragonpay, talked about the importance of simply filling a need. “Dragonpay saw an opportunity to provide for people without credit cards, which has led to significant growth since its inception,” he said in a statement.
For Jennifer Subang, Vice President for Operations at AgriDOM, the key lies in servicing an underserved population with a focus on sustainability and collaboration. “Unmanned technologies are improving the country’s banana industry by reducing costs, increasing productivity, and saving water.”
Such innovations open the door to greater productivity and all kinds of possibilities. “As early adopters of this successful technology,” said Subang, “let’s collaborate to make it affordable, accessible, and sustainable for all farmers in ASEAN and beyond.”
Atty. Dulce Punzalan, a Technical Panel Member of the DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), echoed this sentiment, saying, “I believe that fintech, proptech, ICT, digital agriculture, and environmental efficiency are crucial sectors in the country’s digital economy.”
At the end of the day, it all boils down to working with each other’s strengths to achieve loftier ambitions, such as making the Philippines the Science and Technology Bridgeway to ASEAN and the World. For that reason, collaboration on existing science and technology projects, along with exploring future potential opportunities, are among the key focus points of the upcoming Digital Pilipinas Festival and Philippine Fintech Festival Year 2. It is scheduled to happen this November 20 to 24, 2023, at the SMX Aura Convention Center and other co-located venues and innovation hubs across the country.
The event is expected to pave the way for more innovation, collaboration, and digital transformation in the Philippines for the ASEAN region and beyond. To register for the Digital Pilipinas Festival x Philippine Fintech Festival Year 2, please visit https://digitalpilipinas.ph.