Baguio: The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is looking to encourage young people in the digital creative industry to boost their skills, considering the sector's vast potential for growth.
According to Philippines News Agency, Jhino Ilano, Director 3 of the DICT - ICT Industry Development Bureau, stated in his talk, 'Trabaho Digital: Road to 8M Jobs,' that the government will ensure no one is left behind. Ilano emphasized, 'We will ensure na walang maiiwan (that nobody will be left behind),' during the "Lakbay Likha" digital creative roadshow held at a hotel on Tuesday.
Ilano explained that the government's digital creative program focuses on five strategies to reach the goal of creating eight million jobs by 2028. These strategies include building a creative ecosystem, empowering the creative workforce, accelerating inclusive innovation, mobilizing financing support, and seizing market opportunities. He noted that the IT-Business Process Management (BPM) sector in the Philippines is projected to generate over USD40 billion in revenues this year, contributing around 8 percent to the national gross domestic product. The target is set at USD59 billion by 2028.
He further added that achieving this goal is possible through upskilling, reskilling, and providing support to micro, small, and medium enterprises, as well as freelancers. Data revealed that in 2024, the digital jobs baseline stood at 12.38 million. With the targeted addition of eight million jobs, the Philippines aims to have 20.9 million digital jobs by 2028. These jobs will span not only the IT-BPM sector but also e-commerce and freelancing.
Marigold Daguiso, section chief of the DICT - Empowering Youth and Invigorating the Digital Industry (EPIC) program, stated that the roadshow aims to decentralize the digital creative industry from urban areas, ensuring knowledge becomes accessible to everyone. She highlighted that this initiative is part of the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act and aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s priority agenda.
