NIGHT OWL One of the first cities in Europe to adopt smart city technologies is the Spanish city of Barcelona. Digital technologies are integrated in many parts of the city. They provide free public Wi-Fi; they have LED lampposts with sensors that turn on when there’s a pedestrian and turns off...
NIGHT OWL Digital connectivity is no longer a luxury, but an essential. Learning, employment, livelihood, business, accessing essential services can all now be done online. Many opportunities are now available to those who have access online and equipped with digital skills. The lack of these,...
NIGHT OWL Last June 30 marked the first year in office of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. after being voted by more than 31 million Filipinos. There was no honeymoon phase for the President as he had to immediately roll up his sleeves and get down to work. He had to ensure strong recovery from...
NIGHT OWL Switzerland is already one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world. In the 2022 IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, the country placed fifth among 63 global economies. The country’s aim is not only to be among the best, but to be a leading digital nation. Under the...
NIGHT OWL My interest in Singapore started after I read a Bloomberg article pointing to the country as “The World’s Most Competitive Economy” a few years back. Today, the country also ranks high in digital competitiveness. In the 2022 edition of the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking...
NIGHT OWL When community quarantines due to the Covid-19 pandemic were initially imposed in 2020, only essential workers and those with quarantine passes were allowed to go out. As majority of the population was stuck at home, many reverted to cable TV, streaming sites, and social media to pass...
NIGHT OWL On June 19, we observed Filipino Youth Day, coinciding with the birth anniversary of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who was convinced that the youth is the hope of our nation. In his message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. challenged the Filipino youth to serve the community and be...
NIGHT OWL Last month, I was invited by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) International Women Committee (IWC) to kick-off their Keynote Speaker Series for this year. The IWC is an informal committee at the ADB that promotes internal dialogue within the ADB community and supports ADB’s...
NIGHT OWL Infrastructure development is crucial in the growth strategy of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration. Among the infrastructure projects that are being prioritized are those that would improve physical and digital connectivity, water resources, health, energy, and...
Recognizing the importance of having access to the internet for growth, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) underscored the urgent need to address the challenges in the country’s shift to digitalization. (Photo courtesy of DICT) “Access to the internet means access...
NIGHT OWL Last June 2, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), led by Secretary Ivan John E. Uy, launched the eGov PH Super App to kick-off the National ICT Month. In his speech, the President reiterated the direction he wants for...
NIGHT OWL Sovereign wealth funds (SWF) are state-owned funds or entities that invest in real and financial assets to benefit current and future generations. Several nations have already set up their own SWFs, like Norway, Japan, China, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In the...
