News – Digital Innovation for Woman Advancement

Metro Manila, September 2025 — Policy innovators, developers, and digital advocates in the Philippines are reshaping the conversation around online safety—placing responsibility, foresight, and inclusivity at the heart of technology design.

This shift was on full display during the Safety-by-Design (SbD) Workshop and the launch of the National Models for Women’s Safety Online (NMWSO), held September 3–5 at Marco Polo Ortigas, Metro Manila.

The three-day gathering brought together a cross-section of the country’s digital ecosystem—from policymakers and lawyers to app developers, civil society leaders, academics, and private tech companies. The shared goal: to make safety non-negotiable in digital transformation.

Supported by the Philippine ICT Innovation Network (PIIN) and the Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA), and organized by Development Gateway, the event convened key stakeholders from across government, civil society, academia, and the technology sector.

The technical workshop served as a gathering of visionaries, innovators, policymakers, and young technology advocates determined to reimagine the digital landscape as safer, more inclusive, and fundamentally anchored on human dignity.

“Innovation is only meaningful when it is safe, inclusive, and empowering,” said Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, founder of DIWA and PIIN, who moderated the sessions. “Just as we design for efficiency and user experience, we must design for protection—especially for women, children, and vulnerable groups who are most at risk online.”

The Seven Core Principles of Safety-by-Design

Annie Kilroy, an expert in digital transformation and ethical innovation from Development Gateway, highlighted in her lecture the seven core principles of Safety by Design (SbD), framing them not as lofty ideals but as concrete guideposts for innovators in the Philippines. She underscored the importance of Proactive Harm Prevention, urging designers to anticipate risks before they escalate, while stressing Service Provider Responsibility, which places the duty of safeguarding users squarely on digital platforms. Equally vital is User Empowerment, giving people meaningful control over their digital lives, and Transparency and Accountability, which build trust through openness and measurable responsibility. Kilroy also emphasized Lifecycle Integration, embedding safety considerations from the earliest idea to final deployment, and the Synergy with Privacy and Security, ensuring that protective measures work together rather than in conflict. Finally, she called for Inclusivity, designing systems with diversity, fairness, and accessibility at their core—principles meant to guide innovators toward responsible and human-centered digital transformation.

“These principles,” Kilroy told participants, “are the backbone of a movement that requires responsibility, foresight, and inclusivity.”

Safety as a Continuous Process

As the main convenor for SbD in the Philippines, Christine Sumog-oy reminded participants that SbD is not a checklist or one-time requirement—it is a continuous process woven into the entire product development lifecycle.

From ideation to design, development, testing, deployment, and updates, safety must be present at every stage. This requires clear accountability: specific individuals or teams must be identified as SbD champions to ensure principles are upheld amid the rush of innovation.

Christine stressed that accountability must be paired with organizational culture change. Decisions in product design, engineering, policy, legal, trust, and safety functions should all be guided by the same commitment to protection and inclusivity.

Her message resonated: SbD is not an add-on—it is a living commitment that grows alongside the technology itself. For women and vulnerable communities in the Philippines, she argued, safety cannot be an afterthought—it must be designed in from the very beginning.

Privacy, Security, and Learning from Incidents

During the workshop, Gerald Mutuhu, a technology strategist from Kenya known for scalable, user‑centric solutions, stressed that safety cannot be separated from privacy and security. He described them as the twin anchors of trust: security safeguards against unauthorized access and breaches, while privacy protects users’ rights through data minimization, meaningful control, and responsible information use. When aligned, he argued, privacy and security form the foundation of Safety‑by‑Design, ensuring that users are not only protected but also empowered.

But Gerald reminded the audience that no system is flawless. Even with strong protections, incidents will happen. What matters, he said, is how organizations respond and learn from them. He walked participants through the value of structured Safety Incident Reviews, which go beyond identifying what happened to asking deeper questions:

Why did controls fail?
What were the root causes?
How could harm have been prevented?
What systemic changes are needed to stop it from recurring?

By treating incidents as opportunities for improvement rather than isolated failures, platforms can evolve and mature.

He then connected these ideas to the Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC). At every stage—from ideation and design through development, testing, deployment, and iteration—Gerald urged innovators to weave in safety considerations. He illustrated how risks can be mapped and designed out from the start, how mitigations can be proportionate and tested, and how products must be configured and updated to continuously reduce risks. Importantly, he emphasized the value of running pre‑launch “abusability tests”—exercises that simulate potential misuse before a product reaches users.

Gerald’s message was clear: safety is not a parallel track, but an integrated discipline. It requires the alignment of privacy and security, continuous learning from incidents, and accountability across every stage of the product lifecycle. In his words:

“Safety by Design means weaving protection into every step of innovation—from the spark of an idea, to deployment, and back again through lessons learned.”

Prototypes Signal Business Case for Safer Platforms

The culmination of the Safety-by-Design (SbD) Workshop showcased how innovators in the Philippines are beginning to translate safety principles into practical, market‑ready solutions.

A report delivered by Sheila Estabillo of Plan International Pilipinas mapped the current landscape of online platforms in the country. Her findings revealed fragmented reporting mechanisms, inconsistent accountability structures, and limited user protections—gaps that not only endanger users but also create regulatory and reputational risks for technology companies operating in the market.

This presentation set the stage for a collaborative prototyping exercise. Policy innovators, developers, and digital advocates were grouped into cross‑functional teams tasked with building wireframes for a unified reporting platform. Developers worked on coding functional mock‑ups, advocates tested accessibility and usability features, while policy leaders focused on ensuring compliance with emerging regulatory standards.

The exercise was less a classroom task and more a live demonstration of how safety considerations can be engineered into competitive, scalable platforms.

These prototypes were then subjected to a regulator review simulation—a pressure test designed to mimic the scrutiny of both regulators and markets. Teams faced pointed questions about compliance gaps, long‑term viability, and alignment with SbD’s seven core principles. While the process exposed blind spots, it also validated designs that treated safety as central to product development rather than an afterthought.

For business leaders observing the session, the message was clear: SbD is not simply about ethics—it is about market trust, risk management, and future‑proofing digital products.

NMWSO Grand Challenge

The program closed with the announcement of the NMWSO Grand Challenge—an open call for innovators across the Philippines to submit working solutions that embed SbD into real‑world systems. Winning prototypes are expected to become national models and, potentially, new industry benchmarks.

Organizers framed the challenge not only as a call to social responsibility but also as a growth opportunity, urging innovators to recognize that safety can be a competitive advantage in the country’s fast‑growing digital economy.

FULL TEXT:

Welcome Address by Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue

Safety-by-Design Workshop | September 3, 2025 | Marco Polo Ortigas, Metro Manila

Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat.

On behalf of the Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA) and the Philippine ICT Innovation Network (PIIN), I warmly welcome each one of you to this important Safety-by-Design Workshop and the launching of the National Models for Women’s Safety Online (NMWSO).

We are gathered here because we all believe in one powerful truth: innovation is only meaningful when it is safe, inclusive, and empowering.

The Role of DIWA and PIIN

Allow me first to share the vision of the organizations I represent. DIWA was founded on the principle that women must not only participate in the digital economy but also shape it. Our mission is to empower women innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs by providing opportunities, mentorship, and platforms to co‑create solutions. We know that when women are safe online, they can lead, influence, and build digital futures that benefit everyone.

Meanwhile, PIIN envisions a strong and sustainable digital innovation ecosystem in the Philippines—one where startups, MSMEs, researchers, government, and communities collaborate to harness technology for inclusive development. Our goal is to ensure that innovation does not remain concentrated in urban centers but reaches the countryside, where digital opportunities can transform lives.

Together, DIWA and PIIN are committed to advancing countryside innovation, startup growth, digital job generation, and ethical technology use—always anchored on inclusivity and empowerment.

Lifelong Learning for a Knowledge Society

How do we sustain innovation in a world that is constantly changing? The answer lies in lifelong learning.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 identifies the most in‑demand skills between 2025 and 2030, grouped into three clusters:

Interpersonal skills: resilience, empathy, leadership, and lifelong learning itself.
Cognitive skills: analytical thinking, creative problem‑solving, and systems thinking.
Technological skills: AI and data literacy, programming, cybersecurity, and digital design.

These are not simply “work skills”—they are survival skills in the digital age. To build a knowledge society, each of us must remain learners. As innovators, we cannot assume we know everything. I stand here not only as a representative of my organizations or as an advocate, but also as a student—excited to learn with all of you.

Design Thinking and Embedding Safety

Now, how do we apply these skills to the urgent issue of online safety?

The concept of Safety‑by‑Design aligns perfectly with design thinking. Design thinking begins with empathy—understanding the real needs of users. It drives us to define problems clearly, ideate boldly, prototype quickly, and test iteratively.

Embedding safety is never about adding security features at the end. It is about designing systems from the very beginning with safety, dignity, and trust at the core. Just as we design for efficiency and user experience, we must design for protection—especially for women, children, and vulnerable groups most at risk online.

Safety-by-Design challenges us to ask:

How will this technology affect its users?
Who might be excluded or harmed?
How do we prevent abuse before it happens?

These are not just technical questions—they are ethical and societal questions. Answering them requires collaboration across government, civil society, industry, and communities—just as we are doing here today.

Building the Future Together

Friends, the Philippines is at a critical moment. Digital transformation is reshaping our economy, our jobs, and our daily lives. Reports show that by 2030, AI alone could add over US$1 trillion to Southeast Asia’s GDP—but only if we prepare our people with the right skills and protect them with the right safeguards.

This is why gatherings like this workshop matter. They remind us that digital progress without safety is fragile progress. They remind us that technology without trust is technology without power.

So, let us use these three days not only to deepen our understanding but also to co‑create solutions—solutions that will allow every Filipino to benefit from innovation while being protected from harm.

Your Role in the Safety‑by‑Design Movement

As we begin, I invite all of you to wear two hats: the hat of the innovator and the hat of the student. Innovators—because we must design bold, inclusive, and safe systems. Students—because we must remain open to learning, unlearning, and relearning in this fast‑changing digital era.

Together, through Safety‑by‑Design, lifelong learning, and inclusive innovation, we can build a future where the Philippines is not just a digital player, but a true knowledge society—one where every citizen has the skills, the confidence, and the safety to thrive.

Maraming salamat, and welcome to the workshop. Mabuhay!

A collaboration of women to harness the role of ICTs to advance gender equality and empower women to actively participate in building an inclusive and sustainable digital future.

The Philippines actively creates and develops strategic interventions and programs to ensure the increased participation of Filipino women in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) with the aim of building an inclusive and sustainable digital future for the nation.

Toward this end, a nationwide program called “Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA). DIWA, which is a Filipino word for “mind” or “spirit”. It is a direction pursuant to the Philippines’ commitment to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as a council member. DIWA complements the ITU’s goal to become a model organization for gender equality using ICT to empower women.

DIWA is inspired by the election of Doreen Bogdan Martin as the first woman secretary general of ITU since its founding in 1856. The project was proposed by former DICT Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue as one of her key takeaways from the 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference of ITU at Bucharest, Romania.

DIWA is anchored on global, regional, and multilateral commitments that advance gender equality and women’s digital empowerment, beginning with ITU Resolution 70, adopted at ITU PP‑22 in Bucharest, which calls for strengthened gender inclusivity in ICT. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5, which mandates the mainstreaming of gender across all SDG targets, and is reinforced by the APEC Aotearoa Plan of Action for implementing the Putrajaya Vision 2040 toward strong, balanced, secure, sustainable, and inclusive growth. DIWA also draws from the APEC La Serena Roadmap for Women and Inclusive Growth, the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, and the UNESCAP Women ICT Frontier Initiative (WIFI)—all of which collectively emphasize women’s leadership, participation, and capacity‑building in the digital economy. Together, these frameworks form the policy foundation for DIWA’s mission to champion gender‑inclusive digital development across the Philippines and the Asia‑Pacific region.

DIWA is grounded in the urgent need to address the widening digital skills gap, as the world faces a global shortage of digitally skilled workers while millions of new jobs requiring advanced digital competencies continue to emerge. Yet women remain significantly underrepresented: enrollment of women in ICT courses remains low, only 16% of ICT‑related courses in ASEAN are taken by women, and women comprise just 33% of STEM graduates. Across the region, women’s participation in STEM and ICT fields consistently trails behind men, contributing to lower labor force participation—57% for women compared to 82% for men—and a smaller share of the ICT workforce, where women make up only 37%. These gaps are compounded by the low digital competence of many college graduates and the reality that millions of female jobs globally are at high risk of displacement due to automation. Together, these challenges form the basis for DIWA’s mission: to accelerate women’s digital empowerment, strengthen their participation in the future workforce, and ensure that women are not left behind in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

DIWA aims to accelerate the leveraging of ICTs to achieve gender equality in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its mission is to promote equal access to ICTs for women and men and ensure equal participation at all levels—from policy‑making and economic development to innovation and entrepreneurship. DIWA also seeks to expand the involvement and interest of women and girls in digital technologies, ICT education, ICT certifications, and digital skills training, recognizing that these pathways are essential for meaningful participation in the digital economy. At its core, DIWA champions ICTs as powerful tools through which gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls can be advanced, embedded, and recognized as integral to inclusive, resilient, and future‑ready societies.

DIWA’s strategies focus on expanding women’s and girls’ access to the Internet as a foundation for their meaningful participation in decision‑making, economic development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the broader startup ecosystem. It advances efforts to increase their involvement and interest in digital technologies, ICT education, industry certifications, and digital skills training, ensuring that women and girls are equipped for opportunities in the evolving digital economy. DIWA also champions the use of ICTs as powerful enablers of gender equality and women’s empowerment, recognizing the essential role of women and girls in driving inclusive economic growth and shaping resilient, future‑ready societies.

DIWA’s strategic areas focus on equipping women and girls with the full spectrum of in‑demand digital skills needed to thrive in the modern economy—from foundational competencies such as basic computer literacy, digital communication, data handling, and social media management, to advanced capabilities including data analysis and interpretation, digital marketing, coding and software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, mobile app development, UX/UI design, project management tools, and digital content creation. By strengthening both essential and emerging digital skills, DIWA ensures that women and girls are not only able to participate in the digital world but are also prepared to lead in innovation, industry transformation, and the future of work.

The urgency to act stems from persistent gender gaps in ICT and STEM participation, the growing demand for digital skills, and the need to ensure that women and girls are not left behind in an increasingly technology‑driven world. Advancing gender equality, economic empowerment, innovation, and inclusive social development requires deliberate, coordinated action. DIWA responds by promoting ICT and STEM education for women and girls, addressing gender biases that limit their opportunities, and expanding access to scholarships, mentorship, and industry partnerships that open pathways into high‑growth digital fields. It also advocates for policy reforms that strengthen gender‑inclusive digital ecosystems and ensure that women and girls can fully participate, contribute, and lead in the digital economy. Through these strategies, DIWA drives a future where women’s digital empowerment becomes a catalyst for national and regional progress.

DIWA Discussions

DIWA Discussions bring together a diverse community of participants—women and girls from all sectors of society, senior leaders, young professionals from both public and private institutions, educators and members of the academe, volunteers and NGOs, digital nomads, freelancers, enthusiasts, and even supportive men and boys—to create an inclusive and empowering learning space. These sessions are enriched by speakers who are women senior officials from the DICT, women ICT experts from the private sector, professionals from various digital fields, young women CEOs of tech startups, and other successful Filipino women in ICT who serve as role models for the next generation. Guided by key discussion questions—such as the factors affecting women’s participation in ICT, the strategies needed to increase their involvement, and how each participant can contribute to advancing DIWA’s goals—the dialogue becomes a meaningful exchange of insights, experiences, and commitments. This dynamic flow ensures that every DIWA Discussion is not just an event, but a catalyst for awareness, action, and community‑driven empowerment.

The DIWA Post‑Event Report captures the overall effectiveness and impact of each discussion by documenting key success indicators that reflect both participation and engagement. These include the number of women participants and the sectors they represent, providing insight into the diversity and reach of the initiative; the level of participation, enthusiasm, and quality of suggestions shared during the dialogue, which demonstrates how deeply the participants connected with the themes of digital empowerment and gender inclusivity; and the identified ways forward or next steps, which guide organizers, partners, and communities in sustaining momentum beyond the event. Together, these indicators ensure that every DIWA activity contributes meaningfully to long‑term empowerment outcomes and continuous program improvement.