State Dining Room, Malacañan Palace
April 19, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. convened with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to discuss updates and their recommendations concerning the Digital Infrastructure Work Plans in a meeting at the State Dining Room in Malacañan Palace.

These include the Connectivity Index Rating, National Cybersecurity Plan and the Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) Protection Executive Order that would accelerate the National ID roll out through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), among others.

The PSAC also discussed two (2) main focus items on the digital infrastructure work plans. First is improving internet connectivity by mandating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)-accredited tower companies for last-mile telco infrastructure, boosting tower-sharing and fiber builds to enhance network efficiency, and allocating PhP608 billion annually for DICT to facilitate internet access for 125,000 public facilities.

Second is strengthening regulatory policies to promote telecom sustainability to create 1 Million Digital Jobs by 2028 through collaborative efforts of government agencies, particularly the Office of the President, DICT and the private sector, that will equip the workforce with essential competencies for the digital era.

Furthermore, the PSAC gave its recommendations on the discussed work plans which include allocation of PhP608 billion annually to fund internet connectivity in public facilities; improving and implementing identified key issues; issuing a Presidential Directive instructing all pertinent agencies, jointly led by the DICT and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), to coordinate in executing all training and job promotion activities towards the goal of 1 Million Digital Jobs.

President Marcos Jr. issued a directive reiterating the need for the PSAC to work closely with concerned agencies. He also emphasized that the implementation of plans should be clear and worthwhile.

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