Jocelle Batapa Sigue - Driving Digital Innovation To The Countryside

Former Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) from August 4, 2022 to May 25, 2025

Convenor, Philippine ICT Innovation Network

Convenor, Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA)

Digital Innovation Board Member, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development

Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue is a trailblazing advocate for digital empowerment and inclusive innovation in the Philippines. With over two decades of leadership at the nexus of law, policy, and technology, she served as Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development (2022–2025) at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) of the Philippines, driving nationwide support for tech-startups, digital freelancers, digital nomads, and countryside tech ecosystems. As the Philippine Councilor at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) from 2022 to 2025 and currently a Digital Innovation Board Member of the ITU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development, she contributed to shaping global digital policies and championed ethical, inclusive technologies at national and international forums. A co-founder of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) and Philippine ICT Innovation Network, she helped pioneer rural digital job generation and tech innovation. She designed and led the creation of the first technology business incubator (TBI) at the Negros First Cybercentre and the ALPHA Accelerator in Bacolod City. Her accolades include the 2016 The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Award for ICT, 2013 ICT Contributor of the Year, and Top Ten Outstanding Young Leaders (2009) by Asia Society. A respected lawyer, professor, and speaker, Jocelle leads regional initiatives on AI governance, innovation, design thinking, and women-in-tech—building a future where talent and innovation thrive beyond borders. Click to download short CV here.