BACOLOD CITY — October 22, 2025. The Province of Negros Occidental is taking another major step toward becoming a digital innovation hub in the Visayas as Layertech Software Labs, Inc. and the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) formalized a partnership to advance digital skills and data-driven governance in the province.

The partnership was sealed through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on October 20, 2025, at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol, led by Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson, Layertech CEO and Data Scientist Frei Sangil, NOLITC Administrator Dr. Ma. Christina Orbecido, and Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas II.

Under the agreement, Layertech and NOLITC will collaborate on several transformative training programs to prepare Negrenses for the evolving digital economy.

Under the agreement, Layertech and NOLITC will collaborate on several transformative training programs to prepare Negrenses for the evolving digital economy. These include:

• Harnessing the Power of the Digital Economy, developed with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) to help MSMEs embrace digital transformation.
• Public Data Analytics (PDA) Course, anchored on the Data for Development (D4D) initiative to enable local governments and civil society organizations to apply evidence-based decision-making.
• Learn2Code: Coding Out of Poverty, a series of inclusive courses introducing learners to coding, Python, electronics, and artificial intelligence.

The day after the MOA signing, on October 21, 2025, Layertech conducted a Training of Facilitators for NOLITC instructors at its Talisay City campus. The session equipped local trainers with practical methods to deliver interactive and inclusive learning experiences across the province.

Data for Development: Building a Smarter, More Transparent Philippines

Frei was co-researcher to Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue for the latter’s research about the Data for Development (D4D) program—a proposed national data analytics and visualization portal designed to consolidate socio-economic data from multiple government sources into one interactive, accessible platform.

D4D aims to empower policymakers, businesses, researchers, and citizens by transforming raw government data into actionable insights that can guide local and national development priorities. At its core is a Data Governance Framework to ensure that data is accurate, standardized, secure, and ethically managed across all government institutions.

Based on Batapa-Sigue’s proposal, “without such a framework, data fragmentation and lack of interoperability could limit transparency and accountability. The D4D initiative therefore seeks to align Philippine data practices with global standards such as the OECD’s Data-Driven Public Sector Framework, the Atlas of Economic Complexity, and the World Bank’s Numbers for Development platforms.”

Aligned with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s call for inclusive digital development in Asia-Pacific, the D4D program also encourages Local Government Units (LGUs) to leverage data science for improved service delivery, transparency, and public engagement.

A joint pilot run of the Public Data Analytics Course was done by Layertech in collaboration with Batapa-Sigue’s as former undersecretary at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and is really designed to equip LGUs with the skills to create data strategies and visualization plans tailored to their communities.

The two-day training covers:

• Introduction to Data Analytics Tools and Methodologies
• Data Maturity Assessment and Planning
• Data Processing and Visualization
• Cybersecurity and Incident Response
• Developing Local Data Strategies and Implementation Plans

This training aims to help LGUs deliver smarter, data-backed public services and foster community trust through open and evidence-based governance.

The second PDA run was in Negros Occidental last July 1 with ten local government units (LGUS) attending. Frei also joined the Negros and Bacolod Investment Meetup Road to 100K jobs for the Negros Island Region organized by Batapa-Sigue under the Philippine ICT Innovation Network.

Global Context and Local Impact

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital literacy are among the fastest-growing skills worldwide. Meanwhile, the AI for All: Building an AI-Ready Workforce in Asia-Pacific (2025) report by ADB and Google.org calls for inclusive AI skilling ecosystems to bridge digital divides across the region.

Layertech’s partnership with NOLITC answers this call by combining global frameworks with local innovation—creating opportunities for Negrenses to thrive in the age of data, AI, and digital transformation.

“This is how we bring the power of data and innovation to the countryside,” said Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, former DICT Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development and founder of the D4D initiative.

“By enabling local trainers, LGUs, and communities to use data effectively and ethically, we are building a digital democracy where every Filipino can participate in shaping our nation’s growth.”

Batapa-Sigue congratulates to Layertech Software Labs, Inc. and the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) for their visionary leadership in pursuing the Data for Development (D4D) framework. This collaboration signifies more than just digital training — it represents a shared commitment to harnessing the power of data for inclusive growth, transparency, and innovation.

Batapa-Sigue believes, “by integrating D4D principles into their programs, Layertech and NOLITC are empowering local trainers, communities, and government partners to make evidence-based decisions that uplift lives and strengthen governance. This is the kind of transformation that truly bridges the digital divide — one that starts with people, powered by data, and guided by purpose.

Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have always been close to my heart, and seeing it champion a data-driven and future-ready ecosystem is both inspiring and affirming. This initiative sets a national example for how provinces can turn data into development, and innovation into opportunity.

Abanse Negrense: Investing in People, Data, and the Future

For NOLITC Administrator Dr. Ma. Christina Orbecido, the partnership is an investment in people and purpose.

“Through this collaboration, we are preparing Negrenses not only for digital jobs but for digital citizenship—empowered, informed, and ready to innovate.”

By aligning provincial programs with national and global digital agendas, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, NOLITC, and Layertech are setting a benchmark for inclusive and data-driven local governance.

Their shared mission—to bridge digital divides and build future-ready communities—cements Negros Occidental’s reputation as one of the country’s leading models for smart, sustainable countryside innovation.