USABC and ASEAN-BAC Philippines Push Digital Economy and Workforce Agenda Under 2026 ASEAN Chairship Roundtable Series
(Pasig City, Philippines) On March 19, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines (ASEAN-BAC Philippines) convened senior government officials, private sector leaders, and development partners for the fourth roundtable of the 2026 Philippine ASEAN Chairship Roundtable Series on Digital Economy and Workforce Development. The session focused on translating the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) into tangible outcomes across digital infrastructure, MSME digital adoption, cross-border data flows, and cybersecurity.
Insights were provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and Josephine Romero, Senior Adviser at ASEAN-BAC Philippines. Government perspectives were shared from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Science and Technology, the National Privacy Commission, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Education, and the Development Academy of the Philippines.
"As the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairship in 2026, we have a unique opportunity to maximize this platform — not just to host conversations, but to shape regional direction, especially in today's era of digital transformation. At the center of this effort is an urgent recognition that workforce development will determine whether we succeed or fall behind in the digital economy," said Secretary Kiko Benitez of TESDA.
Key Takeaways and Policy Directions
Participants emphasized recommendations including:
- Advance interoperable and trusted digital infrastructure to support cross-border trade and services
- Promote clear and predictable rules for cross-border data flows while safeguarding security and privacy
- Strengthen public-private collaboration to accelerate MSME digital adoption
- Scale workforce upskilling and reskilling initiatives aligned with industry needs
- Enhance regional cooperation on cybersecurity and digital trust frameworks
“ASEAN’s digital economy is expanding faster than the policy environment can keep pace,” said Atty. Herminio “Third” Bagro, USABC’s Philippines Chief Representative. “The opportunity now is to turn DEFA commitments into interoperable rules, strengthen digital infrastructure, and align workforce development with industry demand -- so businesses can scale and growth translates into quality jobs across the region.”
“Inclusive digitalization and workforce readiness are not just economic priorities -- they are the foundation for ensuring that ASEAN’s growth is broad-based and durable. ASEAN-BAC Philippines is committed to bringing practical, people-centered solutions to the Chairship agenda, and this session advanced that work in a meaningful way,” said Josephine Romero, Senior Adviser of the ASEAN-BAC Philippines.
The series concludes with a final roundtable on Artificial Intelligence on April 14, with insights informing a Strategic Action Plan to be launched ahead of the May ASEAN Leaders' Summit.
