Manila Tech Summit 2026 backs digital economy, seamless ASEAN trade

 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque emphasizes the urgency of digital transformation to boost the global competitiveness of Philippine products during the Manila Tech Summit 2026 Media Conference on Wednesday, May 13. (Photo by: John Lester Naguna/PIA-NCR) 

QUEZON CITY (PIA) — Filipino entrepreneurs and migrant workers are expected to be the primary beneficiaries of a region-wide digital integration roadmap unveiled during the launch of the Manila Tech Summit 2026 on Wednesday.

The summit, scheduled for July 28 to 29 at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Pasay City, aims to streamline cross-border commerce for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and facilitate more efficient remittance transfers for overseas Filipinos. 

“A Filipino entrepreneur should be able to transact across ASEAN as naturally as across barangays,” said Lito Villanueva, FinTech Alliance. PH founding chairman. He noted that integrated cross-border transfers would allow Filipinos abroad to send remittances to their families with greater ease and reliability.

The initiative aligns with the “Bagong Pilipinas” governance agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which emphasizes innovation and inclusivity.

“This initiative strongly complements the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for Bagong Pilipinas—one that is innovative, competitive, future-ready, and inclusive. We want every Filipino to benefit from the opportunities of the digital economy—not only large companies in Metro Manila, but also MSMEs, startups, farmers, and young entrepreneurs across the region,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque. 

The event centers on the implementation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA). By harmonizing business rules and removing technical barriers, the agreement seeks to transform the regional digital market, currently valued at $300 billion, into a $2 trillion economy by 2030.

According to Secretary Roque, the goal is to ensure that digital opportunities reach startups, farmers, and young entrepreneurs outside of Metro Manila.

President Marcos, who recently led ASEAN leaders in a unified commitment to digital transformation at a summit in Cebu, is slated to headline the Manila event. 

The President previously said that digital innovation is critical to improving agricultural productivity and protecting vulnerable populations through responsive decision-making.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) underscores the growing importance of this sector, noting that the domestic digital economy reached 2.74 trillion pesos in 2025. 

This accounts for 9.8 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides employment to approximately 10.39 million Filipinos, or one in every five workers.

Consumer adoption has also seen a significant shift, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reporting that digital transactions now represent 57 percent of monthly retail volume.

The summit will feature discussions among 4,000 leaders and regulators on agentic AI, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure. 

Organizers said that these technical frameworks are necessary to provide consumer protection and resilient infrastructure for the millions of Filipinos now participating in the digital ecosystem. (JMP/PIA-NCR)