At the recent Internet of Things conference at SMX MoA held December 29-30, 2024, speaker Gail Macapagal, Chief People Officer of DTaka and a Founding Director of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, talked about innovation and technology, while encouraging more women and young people to take an interest in the profession.
While the talk sampled jargon on the necessity of robust infrastructure and convergence of 5G and blockchain to reshape industries, the overarching need for private and public sector collaboration, as well as the need to provide talents for the demands of technology and IT jobs could not be ignored.
Macapagal said the convergence of 5G and blockchain technology presents a unique mix of challenges and opportunities that should reshape industries like finance, cybersecurity and supply chain, among others. This while wearing her DTaka hat.
Entering a new market where established brands have been in the local arena for years is daunting. But DTaka, targetting the country’s over 2.3 million OFWs and young workforce, is making its blockchain-powered e-wallet as an option positioning as a future finance solution.
Says Macapagal, “Collaboration is key to innovation and to our IT industry. DITO Telco has always been the third telco, and we are not here to compete. Rather, we’re here to collaborate make things easier for our countrymen, for every Filipino.”
Asked about solutions to the challenges of innovation adaption, specifically 5G and blockchain, she replied, “I think that enhanced data speed interoperability, and the internet of things are opportunities. But then I think at the end of the day, you need to collaborate, You need to do a private public partnership so that the government and the private sector can come together with solutions and to address these issues.”
Macapagal also addressed the education part and the need to create a Philippine skill framework that would determine what types of skills are needed to be able to enter these IT jobs, while mentioning that PLDT Innovation Hub, and events like the IoT can be stepping stones into learning more about the field.
“Without framework, how can we best operate and find what are needed to be able to enter (the industry). We need investment in education, training, and reskilling and upskilling,” adds Macapagal.
Wearing her hat as the solutions-focused Women in Blockchain founder, Macapagal ended by encouraging new sectors to take an interest in technology and innovation. “We need more women. We need more of the younger generations to go into our technology. At the end of the day, women and young people are our future. So, invest in training, invest in education.”
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