Digital-First Philippines: IT Executives Express Support and Note Challenges at CXO Tech Summit 2025
IT executives and members of the media gather at the Wani Conference Room of Boracay Shangri-La Hotel for the VST ECS CXO Tech Summit 2025 Media Briefing on October 16, 2025
- Unified Support for Government Collaboration: Tech executives, including leaders from VST ECS, Cisco, and Stellar Cyber, expressed strong willingness to work with the Philippine government toward a “Digital-First Philippines,” echoing DICT Secretary Henry Aguda’s vision for nationwide digital progress.
- Call for Policy and Process Reform: Industry leaders identified the absence of a Data Sovereignty Law and the slow pace of government procurement as key roadblocks to accelerating digital transformation and infrastructure development.
- Momentum Toward Inclusive Innovation: Executives acknowledged the government’s increasing seriousness in digital initiatives, particularly the pre-approval of ISSPs and investments in fiber connectivity, signaling a growing readiness for large-scale public-private collaboration.
During VST ECS CXO Tech Summit 2025 Media Briefing, an engaging dialogue unfolded on the private sector’s role in the Philippine government’s Digital-First initiatives. The discussion was prompted by a question from Mark Milan Macanas of TechPinas.com, who asked the panel:
“How open are your companies to working with the Philippine government for the nation’s digital transformation? And if so, what challenges or hurdles do you foresee in doing so?”
The question came at an opportune moment, following DICT Secretary Henry Aguda’s keynote presentation outlining the Digital Roadmap and his vision for a Digital-First Philippines. It encouraged the country’s and region’s top technology executives to share their perspectives openly, highlighting both a strong willingness to collaborate with the public sector and a realistic understanding of the operational and structural challenges that must still be overcome to achieve nationwide digital progress.
Data Sovereignty as a Key to Growth
Leading the responses, Mr. Jimmy Go, President and CEO of VST ECS Philippines, affirmed that the private sector is ready to collaborate with the government in building the digital backbone of the country.
“Well, I think everybody's answer would be yes, of course. We will support the country. We need to improve the country’s digital infrastructure,” he said, underscoring the company’s commitment to national development.
Tech industry leaders gather for the VST ECS CXO Tech Summit 2025 Media Briefing at the Shangri-La Boracay, featuring Jimmy D. Go, President and CEO of VST ECS Philippines; Herns A. Hermida, Architecture Specialist for Secure Networking at Cisco; Kelvin Chua, Senior Regional Director for Systems Engineering at Fortinet Southeast Asia; Jensen Liu, Country Manager of H3C Philippines; Changming Liu, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Stellar Cyber; and Aris Coronel, Solutions Engineer at VMware by Broadcom.
However, Mr. Go noted that readiness should exist on both sides of the table — not just among corporations but also within government institutions. "But the government has to be ready also to accommodate," he added.
He highlighted the importance of establishing a Data Sovereignty Law, which he believes would have a transformative impact on local data infrastructure.
“One of the things that I’ve always been requesting from the DICT Secretary is the Data Sovereignty Law,” he added. “If there’s a data sovereignty law, there will be more data centers that will be built in the country.”
Data Sovereignty Law ensures that data generated within a country is governed by that country’s own laws and regulations. This means that personal, financial, or government information collected from citizens must be stored and processed within national borders or under legal frameworks that protect the country’s interests.
Such law is crucial in strengthening data privacy, cybersecurity, and digital independence. It prevents sensitive information from being exposed to foreign jurisdictions, encourage the growth of local data centers, and promote accountability among companies handling user data. In essence, data sovereignty law helps nations safeguard both their people’s privacy and their digital assets.
Government Collaboration Already in Practice
Mr. Changming Liu, CEO of Stellar Cyber, echoed Mr. Go’s sentiment on collaboration and shared that his company already works with government clients in the Philippines and abroad.
“Of course, we want to work with government,” he said. “We do have government as a customer as well.”
His concise response affirmed that private-public cooperation is not just a future plan but is already an ongoing reality. Cybersecurity companies like Stellar Cyber could be integral to government projects that strengthen digital defenses and ensure the safe management of critical data systems.
Recognizing Government Efforts, Urging Process Efficiency
Adding a broader perspective, Mr. Herns Hermida, Architecture Specialist for Secure Networking at Cisco, noted how the current administration is showing genuine intent to make digital transformation a national priority.
“The recent launch of the fiber backbone and the President’s presence in these events show how serious this administration is in pursuing a digital-first agenda," he shared.
Hermida praised ongoing digital infrastructure initiatives but also addressed one of the most persistent challenges in government technology projects — slow procurement processes.
“Procurement needs to be faster and more efficient,” he explained. “Oftentimes, by the time a technology is approved and awarded, innovation has already moved forward.”
This delay, he noted, limits the agility of public sector modernization efforts. To keep pace with global advancements, procurement and approval frameworks must evolve to accommodate faster innovation cycles while maintaining transparency and accountability.
Hermida also welcomed Secretary Aguda’s announcement that government agencies’ Information Systems Strategic Plans (ISSPs) are now pre-approved — a reform that could significantly speed up IT project funding and execution.
“That is a very big thing,” he said. “Many government agencies have said they could not release funds for IT projects because their ISSP was not yet approved. When Secretary Henry said it’s now pre-approved, it will unlock a lot of investment from the government.”
Challenges Along the Way
The discussion highlighted several recurring challenges that must be addressed to sustain momentum toward a Digital-First Philippines:
- Policy Gaps: The absence of key legislation, such as a Data Sovereignty Law, limits infrastructure expansion and local data security.
- Procurement Delays: Lengthy approval timelines slow down the deployment of new technologies.
- Government Readiness: Continuous training, resource allocation, and coordination across agencies are vital for long-term digital sustainability.
Addressing these issues will be critical in translating digital strategies into tangible outcomes that improve services, strengthen cybersecurity, and empower citizens.
Moving Forward: Building the Digital Nation Together
The VST ECS CXO Tech Summit 2025 offered a valuable look at how industry leaders view the road ahead for the Philippines’ digital transformation. The willingness of private sector IT executives, including Mr. Jimmy Go, Mr. Changming Liu, and Mr. Herns Hermida, to collaborate with the government — coupled with their constructive feedback on existing barriers — reflects a forward-looking partnership mindset.
With the DICT driving initiatives under Secretary Henry Aguda’s leadership, and the private sector bringing innovation and expertise to the table, the Philippines stands at a pivotal point. Collaboration, clear policies, and agility will determine how quickly the nation can evolve into a truly Digital-First Philippines — one that thrives on inclusivity, efficiency, and innovation.
