A top official of the multinational internet service giant, Google, lauded the digital transformation agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as he expressed his company’s intention to expand its business and operation in the Philippines.
In a meeting with President Marcos on the sidelines of his trilateral summit with the US and Japan on Thursday (local time), Google’s Global Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy Karan Bhatia said that they are impressed by how the Philippine government shifted to digitalization of services.
“Let me first, of all, say how impressed we’ve been with the leadership that you and your team have already shown on the digital transformation agenda. We know it is a very high priority for you, for the Philippines as a whole, but in particular for the government,” Bhatia told President Marcos.
President Marcos met with executives of Google on Thursday afternoon shortly after his trilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the White House in Washington, DC where they discussed ways to strengthen economic and maritime cooperation of the three countries.
For his part, President Marcos asked Google to increase the cybersecurity activity in the Philippines, particularly the country’s regulatory efforts and to come up with a system that will provide efficient digital services for all Filipinos across the country.
President Marcos also emphasized that the Philippine government wants to ensure continued connectivity off the sea.
“I am trying to be concerned when we’re off the sea. So, as I said, will try to pick that up and go on your organization and help us with that,” President Marcos said, referring to the government’s cybersecurity programs, initiatives and tools and framework to strengthen cybersecurity defense and contribute to a safer digital ecosystem in the country.
Bhatia responded to President Marcos in the affirmative as he emphasized that Google can provide the Philippines what it needs in terms of strengthening the country’s cybersecurity and that they “would love to be part” of the government’s efforts on digital transformation. |PND
