Monday, 14 July 2025, 12:39 am

    Globe backs “Silicon Valenzuela” to help future-proof PH workforce

    Globe Telecom has committed to providing connectivity for Valenzuela City’s emerging ICT Hub as part of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Digital Bayanihan initiative—a nationwide effort aimed at bridging the digital divide and creating eight million jobs by 2028.

    The ICT Hub, dubbed “Silicon Valenzuela,” is envisioned as a digital innovation zone and education center, transforming the city from a manufacturing hub into a tech-driven ecosystem. It will feature green data centers, an ICT academy, business incubators, coworking spaces, and government service facilities.

    Globe’s support, highlighted during a recent memorandum of understanding signing between DICT and the City Government of Valenzuela, aligns with industry-wide goals to move beyond connectivity access and toward real digital opportunities.

    “Our collective goal must be to translate access into real opportunity—to enable learning, foster enterprise resilience, and allow every Filipino to thrive in the digital economy,” said Froilan Castelo, president of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators (PCTO) and Globe Group general counsel.

    Valenzuela mayor Weslie Gatchalian first proposed the ICT Hub vision in 2022. Plans include an ICT Academy on a 1.9-hectare site, with six interconnected buildings housing a school, BPO hub, and an ICT museum. Construction of the first building is expected next year, pending funding.

    Despite having high social media use, the country still faces a major skills gap—42 percent of the Philippine workforce remains digitally illiterate. PCTO has pledged continued investment in digital literacy, online safety, and data privacy, especially for youth, to ensure Filipinos are equipped for future digital demands.

    The collaboration reflects a shared vision among telcos, local government, and the DICT to make the Philippines truly future-ready—through connectivity, education, and innovation.

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