BUDGET Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has emphasized the crucial role of digital learning in transforming and advancing the Philippine education system.

She made the statement as she joined the launch of the “Pay IT Forward: A Digital Transformation Advocacy” project in Intramuros, Manila.

The initiative, formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed on April 3 by the Department of Education, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and private partners iAcademy and Republic Asia, aims to equip learners nationwide with essential digital skills through training, provision of ICT equipment, and satellite connectivity.

“This initiative represents a significant step toward advancing our education system to digital empowerment. As we know, digitalization is not merely a global trend—it is a strategic imperative,” Pangandaman said.

She stressed that harnessing digital technologies would provide both educators and students the skills needed to thrive in a highly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world.

However, Pangandaman acknowledged the challenges that come with the transition, including bridging the digital divide and adapting to online environments, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

She called for a whole-of-society approach.