The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Bureau of Competitiveness Development (BCD), reaffirmed its commitment to workforce innovation and digital transformation during the 2026 Future of Work Forum, organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) at Dusit Thani Manila.
Centered on the theme “People, Policy, and Progress: Advancing Workforce Excellence in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” the high-level forum convened C-level executives, policymakers, HR practitioners, academic leaders, and industry stakeholders to address the evolving landscape of work.
Representing DTI, Assistant Director Jo-Dann N. Darong delivered a keynote address during Session 2, “Skills for Tomorrow: Developing Talent That Thrives in Intelligent Workplaces.” Presenting on “Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Closing the Skills Gap for an AI-Driven Economy,” Darong highlighted how digitalization, demographic shifts, and climate transition are converging to reshape micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) jobs nationwide.
Drawing insights from the World Economic Forum (WEF) briefing paper Philippine Jobs Accelerator: Key Opportunities for Public-Private Collaboration—which he co-authored—Darong outlined DTI’s strategic Three-Part Action Agenda to prepare human capital for the AI-driven economy:
-
Reimagine Work: Redesigning traditional job roles and workflows to complement human strengths with emerging technologies.
-
Redefine Workforce: Closing critical skill gaps through targeted, continuous upskilling and reskilling initiatives.
-
Reform Workplace: Building adaptive, inclusive, and technology-enabled work environments.
As a centerpiece of this Action Agenda, Darong showcased the newly highlighted DTI AI and Scale-up Center—a flagship business and technology convergence hub designed to help MSMEs, entrepreneurs, startups, and industries adopt AI technologies to boost productivity and scale operations.
The Center’s strategic focus includes:
-
Accelerating practical AI adoption among MSMEs and startups
-
Building a sustainable pipeline of local AI talent
-
Promoting ethical, responsible AI frameworks across business sectors
-
Providing physical and digital infrastructure, including an AI Showcase & Demo Space, Co-Innovation Space, Startup Accelerator Pods, Training Rooms, and an MSME Hub
The forum featured additional sessions on AI leadership and national policy frameworks, with contributions from the European Union Delegation, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines, the International Labor Organization (ILO), the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
DTI’s participation in the forum directly aligns with BCD’s mandate to drive policies, monitor employment impact, and foster public-private collaborations that enhance Philippines labor market efficiency and overall global competitiveness.
