Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina A. Roque emphasized the urgent need for the business sector to accelerate digital transformation, calling it a national priority under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the 51st Philippine Business Conference & Expo (PBC&E) Media Launch on Monday, August 18.
“The digital age is no longer a distant horizon, it is the ground we stand on. We must adapt aggressively and urgently because this is what our country needs, especially as we are 7,600 islands competing in a world that is already digital,” Secretary Roque said.
She explained that digitalization plays a key role in DTI’s three mandates: advancing trade and investments, strengthening consumer protection, and supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Through digital tools, the agency seeks to open wider market access, safeguard consumers in e-commerce, and equip MSMEs with the means to compete globally.
Roque noted that the country’s steady economic performance, reflected in expanding exports, rising foreign investments, and consistent Gross Domestic Product growth, highlights the Philippines’ potential to thrive in the digital economy.
The secretary added that while the government has laid the groundwork for this transition, accelerating digitalization requires closer collaboration with the private sector.
“Our success depends on the strength of our partnership with the private sector. The government can set the stage, but it is your collective vision, courage, and action that will truly unleash the power of digital transformation,” she told business leaders.
With three years left in the Marcos administration, she urged companies to work closely with DTI in advancing policies and initiatives that enable Filipino businesses, especially MSMEs, to thrive in the digital economy, aligned with the “Bagong Pilipinas” vision.
Organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the 51st PBC&E carries the theme “The Future Is Now: Unleash the Power of Digital Transformation” and brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to craft strategies that harness technology as a driver of national growth.
