MANILA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government is honing the skills of the Filipino workforce in digital technology as the country aims to create 45 million "green and high-quality jobs," according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) statement released Friday night.
During Friday's meeting with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the DTI, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual highlighted the crucial role of digital capabilities in elevating the Philippine workforce.
"We are steering our workforce towards high-value tasks that enable them to climb the ladder of value creation," said Pascual, adding that the move "is especially crucial in the field of digital technology, which does not require extensive machinery but focuses on intellectual and creative skills."
He said the DTI and DOLE collaboration aims "to establish a robust employment framework focused on job creation, quality, and sustainability."
Pascual also announced the government's initiative to create digital learning hubs, which will equip Filipinos with the skills needed to thrive in the global market.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the digital economy amounted to 2.05 trillion pesos (35.396 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, contributing 8.4 percent to the country's gross domestic product, while employing 9.68 million people nationwide. ■