President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has told the private sector to take advantage of the innovations developed by experts to produce more jobs for Filipinos as he urged them to continue exploring limitless possibilities in the digital age.

Speaking at the inauguration of the UnionBank Innovation Campus in San Pedro, Laguna on Friday, Sept. 9, Marcos said the country could bank on the "silver lining" brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is the hastening of the adoption of technological innovations, to improve the digital way of doing business.

"We found avenues that brought us closer together, and despite the lockdown and the distance between us. We learned to hold meetings, even court trials, online," the President said.

"To sustain growth and promote new advances in this sector, it is my hope that you will explore the limitless possibilities, and take advantage of the many bright ideas that our experts have, so that we can generate more jobs and secure our nation’s economic revitalization," he added.

The Chief Executive said that his administration is keen on applying the "uncontested" innovation and digital solutions in the banking sector to the public sector in terms of digitalizing the government at the local and national level.

He stressed that it is necessary to be able to take advantage of the efficiencies of digital transactions and not be "neglectful" about this trend.

"We would be bereft, we would be neglectful of our duties if we do not recognize the trend that is happening around the world. And not only adjust to it, but position ourselves to take full advantage of it," he said.

Marcos has also committed to the banking and information technology industries that his administration will work closely with them in making use of their innovations even in the public sector for the benefit of ordinary citizens.

"With you as our partner in this endeavor, I am very confident that our vision of becoming a world-class and tech-savvy country will come to fruition, especially if we focus on the tasks at hand, we have aligned our goals, and we continue to be aware of all the fast-moving developments in technology out there, so we as a people, we as an economy, can take full advantage of those new technologies," he said.

"Rest assured this administration is committed to working closely with you, with other stakeholders in the banking and ICT (information and communications technology) industry, especially as it redounds to the benefit of our people," he added.

In his speech, Marcos also said that the country must also hone its competencies in areas such as software development, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology, amongst others.