The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), through the Office of the Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development (OUIID) Jocelle Batapa-Sigue spearheaded Regional ICT Summits and Exhibitions (RISE) program, now transitioning into RISE PH: Collaboration for Regional Innovation and Strategic Ecosystem Development, aims to lead the next wave of inclusive regional ecosystems driven by digital transformation across the archipelago.

Supported by former Senator Sonny Angara’s Tatak Pinoy advocacy and former DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, RISE has become a milestone in the Philippines’ digital transformation journey. RISE has been able to bring together more than 3,500 stakeholders at all regional summits and thus has set new standards for digital ecosystem development in the Philippines.

RISE has been implemented strategically across four major geographic clusters: Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and has shown unprecedented success in facilitating cross sector collaboration and knowledge sharing.

A National Milestone in Regional ICT Development

Since its launch, RISE has become the country’s most extensive and inclusive digital ecosystem initiative. Designed as a multi-stakeholder collaboration between DICT and regional partners, RISE strategically engaged over 3,513 stakeholders across 16 regional summits in Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Key accomplishments include:

3,513 total participants across 16 summits
Average of 219 attendees per event
20,000+ potential jobs and digital opportunities generated
30+ policy recommendations gathered from grassroots discussions
Cross-sector linkages and region-specific ICT councils activated

“RISE was never just a program—it is a platform, a process, and now a movement. RISE PH reflects the energy of local ecosystems and their ability to lead our national digital ambitions from the ground up,” said Usec. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, the visionary behind the program.

Transforming Regional Landscapes: From Assessment to Action

RISE was designed around a dynamic 3-phase methodology to ensure depth and adaptability:

Regional Assessment – Mapping digital maturity and local ecosystem strengths
Summit Implementation – Conducting multi-sectoral summits in every region
Post-Summit Action – Formation of working groups, quick-win projects, and impact tracking

The program’s flexibility enabled responsiveness to varying levels of digital maturity while maintaining programmatic consistency and alignment with national goals.

What the Data Tells Us: Workforce, Talent, and Business Ecosystems

🔹 Workforce Competency

A national-level assessment revealed that:

Only 35% of the workforce self-reported satisfactory-to-high digital competency
45% fell in the moderate-to-low competency range
A concerning 20% were unable to self-assess

Top barriers include:

Skills mismatch between education and industry (68%)
Limited advanced training resources (62%)
Infrastructure and connectivity issues (55%)
High turnover rates (42%)
Funding constraints (38%)

RISE’s intervention: the creation of industry-academia partnerships, structured training programs, and regional workforce roadmaps.

Talent Development

While 75% of regions had training programs, only 55% showed effective results. RISE has:

Enabled dialogue platforms across regions
Facilitated shared learning and mentorship models
Strengthened curriculum-industry alignment
Promoted digital literacy beyond urban centers

Business Environment

RISE summits uncovered a digital business environment full of contrast:

Strengths: strong government support (65%), IT-BPM presence (45%), and educational linkages (40%)
Challenges: infrastructure gaps (78%), funding limitations (65%), regulatory complexity (55%), talent retention (52%)

The program supported localized digital transformation roadmaps, cross-sector policy discussions, and incubation of innovation hubs.

Geographic Insights and Sectoral Balance

Northern Luzon: Pioneered the first ICT council development plan; Baguio launched its Innovation Hub.
Southern Luzon: CALABARZON led in LGU participation, while Bicol and MIMAROPA showed strong grassroots momentum.
Visayas: Balanced stakeholder participation and gender representation, with Dumaguete showing 31.7% private sector presence.
Mindanao: Noteworthy private sector engagement in Davao and Northern Mindanao; Zamboanga Peninsula drew 400 participants—the largest turnout of the program.

Stakeholder composition across regions:

Public sector: 40–50%
Private sector: 28–30%
Academia: 10–23%
National agencies and others: 13–19%

The Path Forward: RISE PH

Now rebranded as RISE PH, the initiative moves beyond summits to become a long-term digital movement. It aims to create interoperable innovation ecosystems, ensure connectivity equity, and support regionally led digital policies.

RISE PH Commitments:

RISE PH Framework Section

Collaboration for Regional Innovation and Strategic Ecosystem Development

RISE PH represents the next evolution of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s long‑standing commitment to regional empowerment. Building on the momentum of the Regional ICT Summits and Exhibitions (RISE) program, RISE PH strengthens the country’s digital transformation agenda by activating regional innovation ecosystems, deepening cross‑sector collaboration, and ensuring that every community — regardless of geography — participates in the digital economy.

The framework is anchored on four strategic pillars that collectively shape a resilient, inclusive, and future‑ready digital Philippines.

1. Collaborative Innovation

Cross‑regional mentoring, shared toolkits, and best‑practice exchange

RISE PH positions collaboration as the foundation of national digital progress. Through structured cross‑regional mentoring, more mature ICT ecosystems guide emerging ones, accelerating learning and reducing fragmentation. Shared toolkits — including templates for digital roadmaps, governance models, and community engagement strategies — ensure consistency while allowing regions to adapt tools to their unique contexts.

Best‑practice exchange becomes a national engine for innovation. Regions showcase successful models in e‑governance, digital literacy, startup incubation, cybersecurity readiness, and public‑private partnerships. This culture of open knowledge sharing transforms the Philippines into a networked nation, where insights flow freely and every region contributes to collective advancement.

2. Ecosystem Sustainability

Active ICT councils, regional digital roadmaps, and public‑private‑academic alliances

Sustainable digital transformation requires strong institutions and long‑term structures. RISE PH strengthens regional ICT councils as multi‑stakeholder bodies that drive policy alignment, project coordination, and ecosystem monitoring. These councils serve as the backbone of regional digital governance.

Regional digital roadmaps provide strategic direction, outlining each region’s strengths, opportunities, and priority sectors — from agriculture and tourism to creative industries, IT‑BPM, and emerging technologies. These roadmaps guide investments, ensure continuity, and align regional efforts with national priorities.

Public‑private‑academic alliances reinforce ecosystem sustainability by distributing responsibility across sectors. Government enables policy and infrastructure; industry provides market insights and employment pathways; academe develops talent and research; and civil society ensures inclusivity. Together, they create balanced ecosystems capable of adapting, innovating, and thriving over time.

3. Talent Development

Regional training centers, inclusive digital literacy programs, and skills‑based scholarships

Talent is the lifeblood of every digital ecosystem. RISE PH strengthens regional training centers as hubs for upskilling and reskilling, offering programs in digital literacy, cybersecurity, data analytics, software development, digital marketing, and emerging technologies. These centers bring opportunities closer to communities and align training with regional industry needs.

Inclusive digital literacy programs ensure that no Filipino is left behind — empowering youth, women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, micro‑entrepreneurs, and underserved communities. Skills‑based scholarships open pathways for learners who may not have the financial means to pursue training, building a strong and diverse talent pipeline.

By investing in people, RISE PH fuels innovation, attracts investors, and strengthens local industries, ensuring that every region contributes to the country’s digital workforce.

4. Infrastructure and Connectivity

Joint investment planning, broadband rollout, and regional cloud hubs

Digital transformation cannot advance without reliable infrastructure. RISE PH promotes joint investment planning among national and local governments, telecom providers, and private investors to expand broadband access and reduce duplication of efforts. This coordinated approach ensures that infrastructure development aligns with regional digital roadmaps and ecosystem priorities.

Broadband rollout remains a national imperative, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Affordable, high‑speed internet enables education, e‑commerce, telehealth, remote work, and digital public services — ensuring that every Filipino can participate in the digital economy.

Regional cloud hubs strengthen data sovereignty, improve service reliability, and support local innovation. These hubs enable regions to host digital platforms, government systems, and enterprise solutions closer to users, reducing latency and enhancing security. They also support emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and big data analytics.

A National Call to Action

“This is our shared future to build. Let RISE PH be the platform where local dreams meet national direction, where each island becomes a lighthouse for digital excellence,” emphasized Usec. Batapa-Sigue.

RISE PH is calling on LGUs, ICT councils, universities, businesses, and innovators to commit to this journey of sustained digital empowerment and equitable innovation.