WASHINGTON, D.C.–In response to the growing global demand for digitally-centric activities, the Philippine delegation, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual, met with Google on April 11. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the United States-Japan-Philippines trilateral meeting held at Washington D.C.
Secretary Pascual stated, “The Philippines stands at the forefront of innovation and growth, welcoming diverse forms of collaboration across industry sectors. These include infrastructure development, workforce enhancement, manufacturing, cybersecurity, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).”
“With a digital-savvy population exceeding 110 million, we offer a lucrative market for foreign investment. Our cultural affinity for global content and robust local enterprise sector also position us as a prime consumer of cloud services,” added the DTI chief.
The country boasts advanced infrastructure, highlighted by the early adoption of 5G networks, 19 international sub-sea cable systems, 13 cable landing stations, and an extensive 840,000 km domestic fiber optic network. Additionally, the Philippines supports 11 commercial data center providers operating 25 data centers with a total rack capacity of 19,000.
During the meeting, the Philippine delegation emphasized the Marcos Jr. administration’s commitment to fostering a thriving environment for hyperscaler and data center operations. This commitment is demonstrated through initiatives aimed at talent development and the implementation of robust policies to safeguard intellectual property rights and data protection.
The delegation also expressed gratitude to Google for expanding the Google Career Certificates (GCC) program, which aids workforce development. This initiative, announced during the US-Philippines Trade and Investment Meeting on March 11, highlights Google’s confidence in Filipino talent. As of April 5, the program has attracted interest from 23,000 Filipinos, with a goal to reach 25,000 participants. This expansion supports the Marcos Jr. administration’s goal to promote inclusive economic growth and digital inclusion, equipping Filipinos with skills essential for the digital economy.
Secretary Pascual further discussed the launch of the National AI Strategy Roadmap in 2021, This roadmap focuses on leveraging AI to improve the lives of Filipinos, enhance enterprise productivity, and elevate the nation’s economic competitiveness. It envisions the Philippines as a Center of Excellence for AI Research, fostering collaboration between government, industry, and academe, and preparing the Filipino workforce for future jobs.
A key strategic action is establishing the Center for AI Research (CAIR) to position the Philippines as a global leader in AI research and development. Additionally, the DTI is leading efforts to formulate a national ethics and governance framework for AI to ensure its responsible adoption.
To leverage the country’s strength in electronics and semiconductors, the delegation offered the Philippines as an alternative manufacturing location for Google tech products. This move could diversify Google’s supply chain and reduce its production costs.
Google Philippines, which began operations in 2013, supports the internet giant’s global operations by providing customer and operational support services. The company is currently partnering with the DTI to roll-out more GCC programs across DTI virtual campuses. ♦
Date of release: 12 April 2024
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