“Innovation is the driving force behind progress. In the context of the future of work, it
involves embracing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and reimagining
traditional processes.”

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John E. Uy made the
declaration during the recently concluded Future of Work Conference organized by the
Quezon City Government, the first of its kind event held in the country.

He also highlighted the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors in
order to build a conducive environment for growth and innovation.

In his keynote speech at the opening of “INNOVATE. ADAPT.THRIVE: The Quezon City
Future of Work Conference 2023,” Uy assured the stakeholders present at the
conference that his department is committed to supporting businesses and local
government units as they “traverse the digital transformation journey.”

He also lauded Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte for leading the way for businesses in
the city to navigate the transformative path of the future of work.

“Let this conference serve not only as a moment of reflection on the dynamic landscape
of business and technology but as a call to action, innovate with purpose, adapt to
change and thrive in the future of work,” Uy added.

Utilizing AI and the digitization of the workplace were among the topics discussed in the
two-day conference. To prepare business establishments for the future of work, the
conference communicated relevant strategies and best practices in creating safe,
inclusive, resilient, and sustainable workplace environments.

In her opening speech, Belmonte invited participants to work closely with the Quezon
City government “to craft a vision so we can embrace a future where innovation knows
no bounds, resilience becomes our strength, and that responsibility and accountability
are fundamental.”

“A related challenge for all stakeholders is empowering our workforce to adapt to the
fourth industrial revolution. We will learn how to maximize our workforce through
investments in education as well as retooling and upskilling and to support them better
both mentally and physically as they navigate through unfamiliar territory in order to
adjust to changing times,” she said.

“Together let us embark on this journey into the future of work,” Belmonte added.
The two-day summit on November 13-14 was attended by more than 500 C-level
business leaders in charge of operations, human resources directors as well as
compliance and safety officers.

Among the speakers were C40 Cities Executive Director Mr. Mark Watts who discussed
in Plenary 5 “From Risk to Resilience: Climate Action and Disaster Risk Management in
the Workplace,” while Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Lord Villanueva
tackled Plenary 1 “Doing Well by Doing Good” (Best of the Best Business Practices);
Plenary 2 was about “AI, Flexi-work and Cyber Security: Shaping the Tech-Ready
Workplace” by DICT Undersecretary David Almirol; Plenary 3 “From Good to Great –
The Science Behind the Best Workplaces” by Managing Partner of the Great Place to
Work Ms. Antoinette Mendoza-Talosig; Plenary 4 was about “Safe Spaces: Right of
One, Right of all” by Senator Risa Hontiveros; and Plenary 6 “On the Rise – Jobs of the
Future” discussed by the Founder of PEOPLElogy Group Mr. Allen Lee Chin Min.

Among the panelists were the National President of the Philippine Association of
Building Officials (PABO) National, Inc. Arch. Edison Ching Padilla; Director General of
Food and Drug Administration Dr. Samuel Zacate; the Chief of Bureau of Fire Protection
Director Louie Puracan; President of National Association of Business Permits and
Licensing Officers Atty Melanie S. Malaya; the Senior Vice President for Operations of
SM Supermalls Mr. Bien Mateo; Assistant Vice President and Head of Eastwood City
Estate Management of Mr. Anton Calugay; President & Co-Founder of Intentionality Inc
and Owner of Rags2Riches Ms. Reese Fernandez-Ruiz; President and Co-Founder of
Human Nature Ms. Anna Meloto-Wilk; Urban Planner Consultant Mr. Mark Roeland De
Castro; the Co-Founder of Jurist AI Jay Basco; Vice President for AI and Head of
Sprout AI Labs Gian dela Rama;

President of Quezon City University Dr. Theresita Atienza; Co-Founder & Chief
Business Development Officer of Bizbaz Mr. Vincent Choy; Chief Executive Officer of
Connected Women Ms. Agnes Gervacio; Remotify Founder & CEO Ms. Maria Sucgang;
the CEO of Edukasyon.ph Ms. Grace David; Head of QC Youth Development Office Dr.
Eddilyn DC. Dividina; HR Consultant for Labor Standards & Health IBPAP Ms. Teresa
Azicate; Associate Dean from Asian Institute of Management Dr. Michelle Antero; Head
of QC Information Technology Development Department Paul Rene Padilla; the Author
of The Mind of the Black Hat: Understanding Today’s Cyber Criminals Dennis Paul Nino
S. Sanchez;

Chief Cybersecurity Evangelist and Customer Field CISO and ePLDT/PLDT Enterprise
Alexis Bernardino; Head of QC Human Resource Management Department Atty. Noel
del Prado; OIC – Executive Director of Occupational Safety and Health Center Engr.
Jose Maria S. Batino, CESU IV; Division Chief of the Healthy Workplace and Healthcare
Facilities Division (HW-HFCD) under the Health Promotion Bureau of the Department of
Health Dr. Rosalind G. Vianzon; Action Officer from the Office of the Vice Mayor of
Quezon City Ms. Christella Buen; Acting Assistant Commissioner for Human Resource
Governance Nerissa Canguilan;

Country Human Resources and Managing Director of Accenture in the Philippines Ms.
Ira Reyes; President Project Red Ribbon and Vice President of My Hub Cares Ico
Rodulfo Johnson; Co-Founder and Executive Director of #MentalHealthPH Roy
Dahildahil; and Chief Executive Officer of Mind You Philippines Yuri Marshall. To
include among the panelists were Head of QC Gender & Development Council
Technical Working Group Ms. Janete Oviedo; Head of QC Persons with Disability Affairs
Office Ms. Deborah Dacanay; from Policy Development, Planning, Monitoring and
Evaluation Division (PDPMED) of the Philippine Commission on Women Atty. Ma.
Sophia Isabella De Castro;

Director of Quezon City Police District PBGen. Redrico Atienza Maranan; HR Executive
Cognizant Technology Solutions Anjelo Cabigting; from OpenTable Metropolitan
Community Church Rev. Cristopher Joseph San Jose; from Right to Care Movement
Adrian De Guzman; Advocate for Disability Inclusion in the Philippines Maria Criselda
Bisda; the Officer-in-Charge of
QC Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office Ma. Bianca Perez;

Administrator from the Office of Civil Defense & Executive Director of National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council Usec Ariel F. Nepomuceno; Secretary
General of Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative Atty. Violeta Seva; Co-Chair of the
Board of Directors from ARISE Philippines & Consultant, National Resilience Council
Usec. Alexander Patino Pama, Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk
Reduction Philippines (WINDRR PH) Convenor & President of NU – Asia Pacific College
Dr. Ma. Teresita Pastor-Medado; UP Resilience Institute Director for Institution Building
Mr. Genaro A. Cuaresma; Manager of the Disaster Management Service Criselda
Longga;

President of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) Rene “Butch” Meily;
City Engineer from QC Department of Engineering Atty. Dale Diamond Perral; Board
Member and the Director-In-Charge of Disaster Resilience Committee and Safety
Organization of the Philippines Mr. Martin T. Aguda, Jr.; Head of QC Climate Change
and Environmental Sustainability Department Andrea Villaroman; Specialist at the
International Finance Corporation Pearl Mars; from the QC Green Awards, Founder &
Owner of the Through Habit Ms. Danica Magat;

Transport Cyclist and Urban Planner Founder Aldrin Pelicano; and the Head of
Corporate Planning and Strategy of Robinsons Land Corporation Ramon Rivero.

Among the moderators were the Chairman of Dr. Carl Balita Review Center CEB Group
of Companies Dr. Carl E Balita; President of Maginhawa Food Community and
Communications Coordinator Jules Guiang; Anchor from ONE News & Bloomberg TV
Ph Daniela Laurel; Senior Consultant of Enterprise Information Security Ernest Ocson;
and Former Commissioner of National Youth Commission Percival Cendaña.

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