USAID Commits to Enhance Philippine Manufacturing Workforce and Cybersecurity Infrastructure
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has pledged to expand its support to the Philippines by focusing on workforce upskilling in advanced manufacturing and reinforcing government efforts to fortify cybersecurity measures.
According to Philippines News Agency, the visiting assistant administrator of the Bureau for Asia at USAID, Michael Schiffer, the agency is setting sights on the advancement of the Filipino workforce and the strengthening of cybersecurity defenses. Schiffer shared these remarks while engaging with local stakeholders and industry leaders during his visit.
In a series of meetings, Schiffer participated in discussions on the environmental challenges in the West Philippine Sea, explored partnerships for local vaccine production with the pharmaceutical sector, and conferred with industry executives, academia, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to reinforce the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Alliance (AMDev) program. A noteworthy development during his visit was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among the DTI, the Makati Business Club (MBC), and pharmaceutical giant Unilab in Makati City, emphasizing the sustainability of the AMDev initiative.
The AMDev program, a five-year initiative supported by USAID and executed by the Unilab Foundation, Inc., targets the training of 11,000 individuals with advanced manufacturing skills. It aims to establish at least two Advanced Manufacturing Institutes (AMIs) nationwide and create the Advanced Manufacturing Skills Council (AMSC) to ensure the program’s longevity beyond its initial five-year period.
AMDev chief of party Dan Lachica, speaking on the fringes of the signing event, detailed that USAID has allocated USD5.2 million for the program, with the expectation that the private sector will contribute significantly to the funding throughout the program’s tenure. Lachica highlighted the program’s success in its inaugural year, preparing 430 workers with future-ready skills for the manufacturing sector. The initial focus has been on the semiconductor and electronics industry, which leads the nation’s exports, and the pharmaceutical industry, marking the beginnings of domestic vaccine production capabilities.
In the realm of cybersecurity, Schiffer emphasized USAID’s commitment to foster robust partnerships with both national and local government entities. This initiative is part of the USD3.3 million Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) program, aiming to provide secure information and communications technology (ICT) systems and facilitate smart logistics in the Philippines. The program aspires to prepare the country to identify, confront, and mitigate cyber threats, such as recent intrusions into government digital platforms.
Furthermore, USAID disclosed that, for the year 2023, it has allocated USD135 million in development assistance to the Philippines, with an additional USD8 million earmarked for humanitarian aid.