DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES — ICT Davao successfully convened its 2nd General Membership Meeting (GMM) for 2026, bringing together leaders from the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, government agencies, academe, startups, innovation communities, and development partners to discuss the future of the region's digital economy.
Held at Coco's South Bistro, Davao City, the meeting served as a platform for stakeholders to align on emerging opportunities and challenges facing the ICT sector, particularly in the areas of digital transformation, workforce development, infrastructure, innovation, and global competitiveness.
Opening the event, Atty. Samuel R. Matunog, Chairman of ICT Davao, emphasized the resilience of the ICT sector despite prevailing economic and geopolitical uncertainties. He underscored the importance of collaboration among industry stakeholders to ensure that Davao remains competitive in an increasingly digital and technology-driven global economy.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the ICT Davao Roadmap 2026-2030 by Ms. Belinda L. Torres, President of ICT Davao. Anchored on the vision of "Davao as the Philippines' Next Digital Production and Business Continuity Hub," the roadmap outlines the organization's strategic response to key global trends including artificial intelligence (AI) disruption, workforce transformation, infrastructure competition, regional digital rivalry, and the growing importance of digital ownership and innovation-driven growth.
President Torres emphasized that the traditional IT-BPM model is rapidly evolving as organizations worldwide adopt AI-enabled operations, making workforce readiness, digital infrastructure, and innovation critical factors for future competitiveness. She highlighted the need for Davao to move beyond being solely a service hub and toward becoming a structured digital production ecosystem capable of generating higher-value digital products, software solutions, intellectual property, and technology-driven enterprises.
The roadmap identifies five strategic pillars that will guide ICT Davao's initiatives over the next five years: the transition toward a Davao Digital Council, workforce and skills acceleration, industry and investment expansion, governance and sustainability, and digital industrialization and software manufacturing. Collectively, these initiatives seek to strengthen Davao's position as a center for digital talent, technology innovation, and digital enterprise development.
The meeting also featured a presentation by Mr. Don Jon Lapa, Key Accounts Manager for Mindanao of Vitro, Inc., entitled "VITRO Data Center: Powering the Philippines' Digital Backbone for 25 Years." The presentation highlighted the growing importance of resilient digital infrastructure, business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities, cloud connectivity, and carrier-neutral data center services in supporting enterprises, government institutions, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Participants were given insights into how modern digital infrastructure can enhance operational resilience, improve connectivity, support cloud adoption, and attract technology investments into emerging digital centers such as Davao City. The presentation reinforced the meeting's theme by demonstrating how digital infrastructure serves as a foundational requirement for economic resilience, digital transformation, and sustainable industry growth.
Representatives from key government agencies including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT XI), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI XI), Board of Investments (BOI Davao), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE XI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA XI), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED XI) also shared updates on programs, initiatives, and opportunities relevant to the ICT sector.
The guided discussion and open forum were facilitated by Atty. Ryanlee G. Mesias, Executive Director of ICT Davao, who moderated an engaging exchange among industry leaders, government representatives, and members. Discussions focused on workforce readiness, access to funding and support programs, business-to-business collaboration opportunities, infrastructure development, talent competitiveness, and strategies for strengthening the region's digital economy amid a rapidly changing technological landscape.
The event drew participation from technology companies, IT-BPM firms, startups, educational institutions, innovation organizations, business support groups, and government agencies from across Mindanao, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing the region's digital transformation agenda.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Xavier Eric B. Manalastas, Executive Vice President of ICT Davao, encouraged members and partners to actively participate in the implementation of the organization's 2026-2030 roadmap and continue fostering collaboration among industry, government, academe, and innovation stakeholders. He emphasized that achieving Davao's vision as a leading digital production and business continuity hub will require sustained collective action and shared commitment from the entire ecosystem.
"As technology continues to reshape industries and economies, collaboration between government, industry, academe, and the innovation community becomes even more critical," said Torres. "The roadmap we presented today is not merely a plan for ICT Davao but a call to collectively build the foundations for a stronger, more resilient, and globally competitive digital economy for Davao and Mindanao."
ICT Davao expressed its appreciation to all members, partners, speakers, and stakeholders who participated in the event and reaffirmed its commitment to fostering innovation, digital talent development, technology-driven investments, and sustainable industry growth. About ICT Davao: ICT Davao, Inc. is the premier information and communications technology industry association in Davao Region. It serves as a platform for collaboration among industry players, government agencies, academe, and development partners to promote the growth and competitiveness of the region's ICT sector through advocacy, workforce development, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
