The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is looking forward to pursue digital cooperation with Singapore’s Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed by the two nations during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s State Visit to Singapore last year.

DICT Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Foreign Relations Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo met with Singapore’s Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Ho Wei Hong on Monday, January 16, 2023, to discuss further the areas of cooperation in relation to the MOU on digital cooperation, a first between the Philippines and Singapore.

“We discussed with Ambassador Ho how we can implement this MOU and which areas we should focus on. Singapore has so much experience in the area of e-governance and cybersecurity and they can share with us their best practices on these areas,” said Lamentillo.

The MOU on Digital Cooperation was signed by DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy and Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo on September 7, 2022 during the State Visit to Singapore of President Marcos.

The MOU covers digital cooperation, including on digital connectivity, particularly in inter-operable systems and frameworks that enable electronic documentation; cybersecurity, such as organizing training courses and technical programs through the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ASCCE) to develop and enhance skills related to cybersecurity; and digital government/e-governance, such as in the areas of digital government strategy, digital government services, and digital identity.

The MOU also covers exchange of knowledge, technical expertise, and best practices on measures relating to scam calls and scam short message services; on personal data protection; and in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, cloud computing, Internet of Things, big data, analytics and robotics; among others.

There will also be cooperation and exchange of knowledge to boost the digital innovation ecosystem, including connecting business owners with potential solution providers; exploring cooperation on digital capability and capacity building programs; and exchange of knowledge and best practices on digital infrastructure.