Marcos vows to accelerate digital transformation

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed to accelerate the Philippines' digital transformation during his speech at the Manila Tech Summit 2025.

Marcos highlighted progress in the country's digital economy, noting that over half of payment transactions in 2024 were made digitally and the digital economy reached PHP2.25 trillion, accounting for 8.5 percent of GDP.

The president emphasized government initiatives such as the National Fiber Backbone project and the rollout of the Philippine Identification System to improve access to financial services and enhance internet connectivity.

Marcos acknowledged the risks associated with rapid technological advancements, including online scams, fraud, and cybersecurity threats, and cited laws enacted to manage these risks.

To address job displacement concerns due to artificial intelligence, Marcos announced plans to reskill and upskill Filipinos for jobs in AI, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and creative industries.

The Manila Tech Summit aimed to position the Philippines as a key player in the global fintech ecosystem, gathering over 1,300 delegates from more than 300 organizations.