education – Philippine ICT Innovation Network

Bacolod City, Philippines – June 25, 2025

Negros Occidental and Bacolod City hosted two consecutive business fora on June 30 and July 1, 2025, which explored strategies to generate 100,000 digital jobs across the Negros Island Region (NIR). These events were jointly organized by the Philippine ICT Innovation Network (PIIN), under the leadership of former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, led by Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson, through the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC).

The first forum, held on June 30 at the newly established NOLITC in Talisay City, convened leaders from local government units, academic institutions, and private sector partners. It served as a strategic session to align educational, workforce, and investment priorities in support of the region’s digital transformation. The discussions laid the foundation for long-term initiatives aimed at equipping local talent with industry-relevant skills and positioning Negros Occidental as a competitive hub for technology-enabled services.

On July 1, the event series continued with “Invest in Bacolod & Negros Occidental: Road to 100K Digital Jobs in NIR,” a high-level business and innovation forum at Mansion De Bacolod. The forum featured both local and foreign industry speakers who presented strategies to attract investments, expand digital ecosystems, and scale job creation in ICT-related sectors.

Atty. Batapa-Sigue delivered the keynote address, “Laying the Groundwork for 100K Digital Jobs,” highlighting the themes of countryside innovation, inclusive workforce development, and local digital ecosystems. Drawing on her extensive experience in ICT policy and regional innovation, she outlined actionable pathways for employment generation and investment mobilization across NIR.

Thematic presentations followed. Maricris Sarino-Joson, Director at Colliers Philippines, discussed the real estate outlook for IT-BPM expansion beyond Metro Manila. Atty. Wilbur L. Gadicho, Senior Director at iQor, emphasized sustainable industry growth in rural areas. Fernieva Moritz of Toon Boom Animation Inc. advocated for integrating animation skills into school curricula. Maggie Po, CEO of FullSuite Inc., proposed making Negros Occidental a hub for vital AI-enabling services.

James Thompson, CEO of WrkPod, highlighted how virtual work could enhance global branding from the countryside. Eli Harrell of Emerge PH discussed leadership in evolving digital spaces. Frei Sangil, CEO of LayerTech Software Labs, concluded with insights on using public data analytics for local policy-making.

The forum closed with an open forum, business matching, and networking cocktails. The events generated actionable outcomes through public-private partnerships, skills development initiatives, and investment opportunities, reinforcing Negros Occidental’s role in the national digital economy.

These back-to-back fora embodied a unified drive to advance inclusive digital development outside urban centers, showcasing how regional ecosystems could lead in shaping the future of work.