SENATOR Grace Poe on Saturday stressed that technology-savvy Filipino youth is in the best position to spearhead the country’s digital transformation in order for no one to be left behind.

Poe said the government can make good use of the zeal and adroitness of the youth to bring digitalization to speed, fullness, and relevance.

“It’s well known that in matters of technology, government tends to fall behind the curve. So, we need brilliant guys like you to bring us up to speed,” Poe said.

The head of the Senate public services committee said the Covid19 pandemic ushered in a social disruption that put to fore the importance of the internet.

“The internet and its related technologies have remained a key part of our post-pandemic reality. Digital technology and the business models it enables now define our lives and the choices we make,” she said.

Citing data from a Temasek and Google study, Poe said the Philippine Digital Economy moved $20 billion worth of merchandise in 2022.

And the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas estimates monthly digital payments have grown fourfold, from P523 million in 2019 to P2.04 billion last year.

But Poe stressed technology should go beyond wallet applications.

The young generation can lead the role in the brave new digital world, according to the senator, adding that government must play supporting role.

“We will work to create an environment which will enable you to lead the mission of digital inclusion,” she said.

Poe said one area young techies and professionals can help is in modernizing legislation, and in building a legal firewall that she said will not strangle innovation.

She cited the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which is leading the fight against cybercrime.

“The CICC is a small fish in a big pond. Their P320 million proposed budget, which has zero confidential funds, is a drop in the government coffers. They have a staff complement of only 53 individuals, one of whom is the only certified chief information security officer, she said.

“And yet this small agency is leading the fight against cybercriminals. Just last year, they helped arrest three members of a foreign terrorist group. They raided a cyberscam den, which netted 800 computers, 2,000 mobile phones, and thousands of pre-registered sim cards,” Poe added.

“Which goes to show, it really takes only a few good and competent people, to do a lot of good in this world. We will work on giving this agency what they need to succeed,” Poe said.

The senator also filed the Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 2022, which if passed, will provide a framework for ensuring the security and reliability of the country’s digital ecosystem.

The proposed law would create a legal and digital firewall against those who would abuse technology, Poe said.