Private Sector-Led Initiative Supports the Observance of National Digital Workforce Week Under Republic Act No. 11927

As nations around the world race to prepare their people for the future of work, a new private sector-led initiative is bringing together global experts, industry leaders, innovators, educators, and professionals to help strengthen the competitiveness of the Philippine workforce.

The Philippine ICT Innovation Network (PIIN), in partnership with ecosystem collaborators from the technology, innovation, education, and workforce development sectors, has launched LEVEL UP PH 2026 in support of the observance of National Digital Workforce Week 2026, held during the third week of June pursuant to Section 11 of Republic Act No. 11927, otherwise known as the Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act of 2022.

Carrying the theme “Leadership and Enterprise Value through Enhanced Learning, Upskilling and Productivity,” LEVEL UP PH seeks to create a national platform for learning, workforce development, and future-readiness by connecting Filipino professionals and learners with global expertise in emerging industries and transformative technologies.

Its tagline reflects a growing national aspiration: Compete Globally. Grow Locally.

The Law Behind National Digital Workforce Week

Republic Act No. 11927 was enacted to strengthen the competitiveness of the Philippine digital workforce by promoting digital skills development, workforce upskilling, reskilling, and the creation of opportunities that enable Filipinos to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.

One of its most important provisions is Section 11, which designates the third week of June as National Digital Workforce Week.

The provision recognizes a critical reality facing the country and the world: while digital infrastructure, connectivity, and technology platforms are important, true digital transformation occurs when people acquire the skills necessary to use these technologies productively.

In many ways, National Digital Workforce Week provides an important complement to the observance of National ICT Month every June. While National ICT Month highlights technology, connectivity, and digital innovation, National Digital Workforce Week focuses on translating these investments into human capital development, employability, entrepreneurship, innovation, productivity, and economic opportunities.

This shift from technology adoption to workforce capability development is increasingly recognized as one of the defining challenges of the digital age.

Around the world, governments, industries, and international organizations are investing heavily in future skills, AI literacy, workforce resilience, digital fluency, leadership development, and lifelong learning. The Philippines is no exception.

From Connectivity to Competitiveness

For more than two decades, the Philippines has steadily expanded its digital infrastructure, telecommunications capabilities, ICT-enabled services industry, startup ecosystem, and innovation initiatives. Yet global experience demonstrates that infrastructure alone does not generate prosperity.

The real value of digital transformation emerges when connectivity translates into opportunities, to learn, innovate, earn, create businesses, improve productivity, and to compete globally. This philosophy sits at the heart of LEVEL UP PH.

“The goal is not simply to connect people to the internet. The goal is to connect people to opportunities,” said Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Convenor of the Philippine ICT Innovation Network and one of the country’s recognized advocates for ICT industry development, innovation ecosystems, digital inclusion, and countryside digital jobs.

Jocelle Batapa-Sigue’s Longstanding Advocacy for Digital Workforce Development

The launch of LEVEL UP PH reflects more than two decades of advocacy by Batapa-Sigue in advancing ICT development beyond major urban centers.

A lawyer, educator, innovation advocate, and former Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Batapa-Sigue has consistently championed initiatives that seek to democratize opportunities in the digital economy.

Her work has included supporting the growth of the Philippine IT-BPM sector, strengthening regional ICT councils, promoting startup ecosystems, advancing digital inclusion, empowering women in technology, supporting youth engagement and helping create pathways for digital jobs in provinces and emerging cities. She has long advocated that Filipino talent should not be forced to leave their communities in order to succeed.

Instead, opportunities, innovation ecosystems, digital infrastructure, and workforce development programs should increasingly be brought closer to where people live.

This philosophy has become a recurring theme in her work: “Countryside development begins when jobs, innovation, and opportunities grow where people already live.”

LEVEL UP PH reflects that same belief. By bringing global experts directly to Filipino learners through accessible online sessions, the initiative seeks to help bridge knowledge gaps and expand access to world-class insights regardless of geographic location.

A Learning Platform for Future-Ready Filipinos

Recent studies by organizations such as McKinsey, the World Economic Forum, the OECD, the International Labour Organization, and the International Telecommunication Union consistently point to a common conclusion:

The future economy will increasingly reward adaptability, critical thinking, creativity, leadership, digital fluency, and continuous learning.LEVEL UP PH was designed around these realities.

The week-long initiative features a series of virtual learning sessions delivered by global experts and industry practitioners covering some of the most important capability domains shaping future competitiveness.

Topics include:

• Global Animation and Creative Excellence
• Data Science and Analytics
• Quantum Computing and Future Readiness
• AI Literacy, Critical Thinking, and Digital Fluency
• ESG and Sustainability Competencies
• Global Workforce Competitiveness
• Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

The program targets educators, professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, students, local leaders, startup founders, technology practitioners, and lifelong learners.

Bringing Global Expertise to Filipino Learners

NOTE: Click on the topics to go to Zoom Registration Link

The inaugural LEVEL UP PH 2026 learning series brings together a distinguished lineup of global and local experts to support the observance of National Digital Workforce Week 2026 under Republic Act No. 11927. The week begins on June 15 with a session on the creative economy, featuring Daniel Santos, Senior Director for EMEA and APAC at Toon Boom, who will discuss “Empowering Filipino Creativity for Global Animation Excellence.” The session will explore how Filipino artists, animators, designers, and digital creators can position themselves to compete and thrive in the global animation and creative industries.

Later that same day, Frei Sangil, Data Scientist and President of Layertech Software Labs, will lead a session entitled “Demystifying Data Science: Essential Skills for Data Analytics.” Participants will gain insights into the growing importance of data literacy, analytics, and data-driven decision-making across industries and learn about the skills increasingly sought after in the digital economy.

On June 16, participants will be introduced to one of the world’s most transformative emerging technologies through “Quantum Computing and the Future Workforce: Skills, Opportunities, and Readiness,” to be delivered by Bobby Corpus, President of the Quantum Computing Society of the Philippines. The session will provide an accessible overview of quantum computing and discuss how the Philippines can begin preparing its workforce, institutions, and innovation ecosystem for the opportunities that quantum technologies may create in the coming decades.

The program continues on June 17 with Dr. Praveen Kumar, Partner Manager for Asia Pacific at Wayground, who will present “Developing Future-Ready Talent through AI Literacy, Critical Thinking, and Digital Fluency.“ As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into education and the workplace, the session will focus on the human capabilities that remain essential for success, including critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and lifelong learning.

On June 18, the morning session will feature Kody Thompson, Co-Founder and CEO of WrkPod, discussing “World-Class Filipino Talent: The Skills That Shape the Global Workplace.” The session will examine the evolving competencies required in international work environments and how Filipino professionals can strengthen their competitiveness in a rapidly changing global labor market.

The week concludes with Richard Caballero, Global Executive and Founder of Geese Project, who will deliver “Leading in the Age of AI: Building Decision-Makers for the Future.” This closing session will focus on the leadership competencies required in an AI-driven world, exploring how executives, entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, and community leaders can navigate technological disruption while maintaining ethical, human-centered, and strategic decision-making.

Collectively, these sessions reflect the broad spectrum of competencies shaping the future workforce—from creativity, data science, and quantum technologies to artificial intelligence, global talent development, and leadership. Through LEVEL UP PH 2026, participants will gain valuable insights from industry practitioners and global experts while strengthening the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to compete globally and grow locally in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

Recognizing Skills Through PhilPass Verifiable Credentials

An important feature of LEVEL UP PH is its commitment to recognizing continuous learning.

Participants who successfully attend their registered sessions will receive a FilPass Verifiable Digital Credential issued by the Philippine ICT Innovation Network.

Unlike traditional certificates that can be difficult to verify, PhilPass credentials provide secure and verifiable digital proof of participation that can be integrated into professional profiles, learning portfolios, resumes, and career development records.

As the world increasingly shifts toward skills-based hiring and lifelong learning frameworks, verifiable digital credentials are emerging as an important component of workforce development systems globally.

Building the Workforce of the Future

The Philippines possesses many of the ingredients necessary to succeed in the digital economy: a young population, globally competitive talent, strong English proficiency, creativity, resilience, and a growing technology ecosystem.

The challenge is ensuring that Filipino workers, entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders continue to acquire the capabilities required to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

LEVEL UP PH represents one contribution toward that goal. It recognizes that national competitiveness ultimately depends on human capital. Technology and infrastructure matters but people matter most.

As National Digital Workforce Week 2026 unfolds, LEVEL UP PH serves as both a celebration and a call to action—a reminder that the country’s greatest competitive advantage lies not in the technologies it adopts, but in the skills, creativity, leadership, and potential of its people.

LEVEL UP PH 2026

Leadership and Enterprise Value through Enhanced Learning, Upskilling and Productivity

A Private Sector-Led Initiative for Digital Workforce Development

Compete Globally. Grow Locally.