Agencies seek to enhance workforce digital skills

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have embarked on a strategic initiative to foster digital skills among the Philippine workforce.

At the Labor and Trade Partnership Session on April 26, DTI Secretary Fred Pascual emphasized the transformative potential of digital technology in creating high-value job opportunities.

The session served as a platform to discuss the activation of the DOLE-DTI Enterprise Development and Livelihood Assistance initiative, a product of the memorandum of agreement inked last year.

In a press statement, Secretary Pascual expressed his commitment to guiding the workforce towards “high-value tasks that enable them to climb the ladder of value creation.”

He highlighted that “in the field of digital technology, which does not require extensive machinery but focuses on intellectual and creative skills,” there is immense scope for upskilling the Filipino workers.

In line with the Trabaho Para Sa Bayan Act, the session delved into strategies for integrating digital training and development throughout the employment sector. It underscored the DTI’s plan to transform Negosyo Centers into digital learning hubs, propelling Filipinos to meet the demands of the global digital economy.

By enhancing digital competencies, Secretary Pascual is convinced that Filipino workers will not only improve their own capabilities but will also “contribute significantly to our nation’s economic growth.”

He underscored the need for the Philippine workforce to adapt to rapid technological changes and to harness digital platforms for innovative and sustainable job creation.

This collaborative effort between DTI and DOLE, with backing from the International Labour Organization (ILO), aims to solidify an employment framework centered on job creation, quality, and sustainability.

The session saw the participation of notable figures such as DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, ILO Country Director Khalid Hassan, and DTI Undersecretary for International Trade Policy Group Allan Gepty, marking a significant step towards future-proofing the labor force in the Philippines.