Policy intent and state direction
- The State shall enhance the skills and competitiveness of the Philippine workforce in human, digital technology, and innovations due to rapid digitalization and advances in artificial intelligence and automation across industries and sectors.
- The State shall ensure that all Filipino workers have access to digital skills and competencies at par with global standards.
- The State shall encourage digital innovations and entrepreneurship.
- The State shall provide necessary infrastructure and, in collaboration with private stakeholders, shall undertake upskilling, re-skilling, and training of the Filipino workforce on digital technology and innovations for employability and competitiveness in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Key definitions used in the Act
- 21st century skills include skills required by new jobs, including critical thinking, problem solving, good communication, collaboration, information and technology literacy, flexibility and adaptability, innovativeness, and creativity, among others.
- Certification means an attestation of an individual’s knowledge, proficiency, or competence in a subject matter or skill set by a reputable third party, which can be public, private, or non-profit.
- Co-working or shared service facilities are shared workspaces equipped with necessary facilities and support services for the digital workforce.
- Digital workforce refers to any natural person who engages in remunerated activity through digital skills and digital technology, whether as a regular employee or as a freelancer, regardless of work or employment arrangement.
- Digital labor platforms are digital technology-based platforms that facilitate the production, trade, and commercial exchange of digital content, digital products, or other goods and services arising from digital transactions, including web-based and online platforms with outsourced open calls to geographically dispersed individuals and location-based online applications allocating work to individuals in specific geographical areas.
- Digital content is digital data that can be created, viewed, processed, distributed, modified, and stored using computers and digital technologies, including free or paid content such as webpages and websites, social media, data and databases, digital audio (e.g., MP3s or MP4s), and e-books, digital imagery, digital video, video games, computer programs and software.
- Digital entrepreneurship is the creation of new ventures or transformation of existing businesses by developing novel digital technologies and/or novel usage of such technologies.
- Digital inclusion is the process of ensuring that all members of society, especially disadvantaged and marginalized groups, have access to and are empowered to utilize and benefit from state-of-the-art ICT.
- Digital skills are a range of skills combining behaviors, expertise, know-how, work habits, character traits, dispositions, and critical understanding on using digital devices, communication applications, and networks to access and manage information.
- Digital technology is any product or service used to create, view, distribute, modify, store, retrieve, transmit, and receive electronic information in digital form, including personal computers and devices such as desktop, laptop, netbook, tablet computers, smart phones, games consoles, media players, e-book readers, and digital television, robots, personal assistant smart devices, and smart boards.
- Innovation is the creation of new ideas using new or existing technologies that result in new or improved products, processes, or services that are then spread or transferred across the market.
Scope: coverage, institutions, and target beneficiaries
- The Act directs the State in developing and ensuring the competitiveness of the Philippine digital workforce through digital skills, digital technology, and innovations.
- The Act establishes national coordination through the Inter-Agency Council and provides roles for local government units (LGUs) and Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs).
- The Act requires attention to Filipino workers, including Filipino youth, students and workers, and emphasizes access for people in disadvantaged and marginalized sectors such as persons with disabilities (PWDs), indigenous peoples, senior citizens, and individuals in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas.
- The Act covers the design and implementation of programs for upskilling, re-skilling and training, including digital entrepreneurship and remote work using digital skills.
- The Act authorizes public-private partnerships for training and certification programs, including with IT-BPO industry associations, private companies, and other stakeholders.
Development objectives and national strategies
- In developing and ensuring the competitiveness of the Philippine digital workforce, the State shall:
- Improve the digital competence of all citizens of working age and equip them with digital skills, including digital entrepreneurship and remote work, to benefit from jobs and opportunities enabled by digital technologies.
- Equip Filipinos with digital skills and 21st century skills.
- Ensure adequate protection and support for the digital workforce for continuous improvement of skills to keep up with global standards.
- Provide support through co-working or shared service facilities and loan facilities with concessional terms.
- Ensure digital inclusion by designing programs, activities, and projects considering special needs of sectors including PWDs, indigenous peoples, senior citizens, individuals in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas, and other sectors.
- Ensure proper consultation and collaboration among stakeholders from government, industry and labor in crafting policies, programs, activities, and projects for upskilling, re-skilling and training.
- The third week of June is designated as Digital Workforce Week to coincide with National ICT Month promulgated under Proclamation No. 1521, Series of 2008, to promote awareness of evolving jobs and skills requirements in digital technology and innovations, government assistance, trainings and certifications, and digital career and business opportunities.
Inter-agency council: creation and powers
- An Inter-Agency Council for Development and Competitiveness of Philippine Digital Workforce is established, chaired by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
- The Inter-Agency Council includes the following member agencies: DOLE, DTI, DICT, DOST, DILG, DepEd, CHED, and TESDA.
- The Inter-Agency Council is the primary planning, coordinating, and implementing body for promoting, developing, enhancing, and maintaining the competitiveness of the Philippine digital workforce.
- The Inter-Agency Council shall ensure access to digital contents, platforms, and technology at par with global standards for Filipino youth, students, and workers, and shall encourage digital innovations and entrepreneurship.
- The Inter-Agency Council shall consult and collaborate with government, industry, and labor stakeholders in developing and implementing a national roadmap on upskilling, re-skilling, and training to address skills gaps, particularly in digital technology and digital entrepreneurship.
- The Inter-Agency Council shall have the following powers and functions:
- Provide entrepreneurs with incubation programs and support in funding, skills development, and exposure to business networks.
- With DOLE as lead agency, and in collaboration with DICT, LGUs, and other stakeholders, conduct nationwide digital technology and digital skills mapping to identify available skills and competencies, skills gaps and training needs, workforce demographics in digital technology, and the availability and access to digital platforms and ICT infrastructure, among others.
- With DICT and DOST as lead agencies, and in collaboration with stakeholders, design and implement programs for upskilling, re-skilling, and training, taking into account mapping results and the roadmap.
- With DTI as lead agency, promote business or economic opportunities for digitization of start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and provide technical assistance and low interest loans.
- Encourage and incentivize technological innovations for the growth of agri-fishery industries and hospital care or public health services.
- Provide support and strategies to promote digital technology, digital careers, and innovations among students, youth, and workers, including incentives for:
- Full or partial scholarships or subsidies for appropriate trainings and certifications, whether local or abroad.
- Full or partial subsidy for use of co-working or shared service facilities, equipment, and/or services provided by government or private enterprises or institutions.
- Credit assistance at low interest rate from government financial institutions for acquisition of equipment necessary to carry out digital work, including computers, hardware, and software programs.
- Priority access to DTI support and assistance under its program for start-ups and for MSMEs for digital entrepreneurs, tech start-ups, or innovators.
- Other incentives to promote development and enhancement of digital technology and digital skills across industries and business sectors.
- Establish a centralized web portal for related training, skills development, certification, and scholarship programs to allow access by workers qualified and willing to undergo upskilling or acquire new skills in digital technology.
- Create committees, working groups, and regional inter-agency councils to carry out the mandate.
- Establish an Inter-Agency Council Secretariat, which may be lodged with NEDA or at any designated member agency.
- Conduct consultations, assessment, planning, and re-planning to ensure development and availability of a highly-skilled digital workforce in the country.
- Formulate a digital technology and digital skills roadmap for evolving jobs and skills, including job growth in