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This initiative aims to support the Philippine government’s national innovation agenda and digital transformation goals.
NUS-ISS, the Philippines Civil Service Commission (PCSC) and the Private Sector Jobs and Skills Corporation (PCORP) have marked the formal sealing of a Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) on 24 April 2025, solidifying a strategic partnership to enhance the digital leadership competencies of mid-to-senior-level civil servants in the Philippines.
The MOA, signed on 12 February 2025, will see NUS-ISS conducting the Philippines Civil Service’s Digital Leadership Programme (DLP) in partnership with PCORP and PCSC through the country’s Civil Service Institute (CSI). This initiative aims to support the Philippine government’s national innovation agenda and digital transformation goals.
About the Philippines Civil Service’s Digital Leadership Programme (DLP)
In its pilot stage, the DLP was supported by Temasek Foundation, the Ayala Group, and the SM Group, and was designed to upskill mid-level to senior-level public officials in digital leadership.
The current programme will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase featuring two pilot sessions in Singapore. During these sessions, government and private sector participants will undergo a three-day training, conducted by NUS-ISS.
The pilot sessions will consist of three modules, namely:
- Digital leadership in the public sector,
- Leveraging citizen-centricity and design thinking for innovation, and
- Making better decisions with data.
The sessions will provide participants with firsthand insights into successful digital transformation initiatives in Singapore’s public sector and showcase how digital governance can enhance public service delivery. Through exposure to Singapore’s best practices, participants will acquire practical skills and actionable strategies to drive meaningful change within the Philippine government.
In the second phase, NUS-ISS will license the programme content to PCSC and conduct Train-the-trainer sessions in Manila, equipping trainers from PCSC, government agencies, and the private sector (Asia Pacific College and Mapua University) to deliver the curriculum nationwide.
Recognising the vital role of digital leadership in public sector transformation and to enhance government service delivery, NUS-ISS, PCSC, and PCORP have committed to leverage their respective strengths and resources to design and implement the Philippine Civil Service DLP.
PCSC, as the central human resource institution of the Philippine government, will oversee the training to ensure that the programme is aligned with the country’s public sector context and national governance priorities. PCORP, a non-profit organisation established by PSAC – Jobs Group, will ensure the programme’s long-term impact with its mandate to bridge public and private sector collaboration to close digital skills gaps.
Atty. Marilyn Barua-Yap, Chairperson, PCSC, said the partnership "marks a pivotal step in equipping our civil servants with world-class digital leadership expertise."
"By continuously learning from Singapore’s best practices and adapting them to our local context, we are laying a strong foundation for a resilient and innovative public sector."
Meanwhile, Khoong Chan Meng, CEO, NUS-ISS, affirmed that the institution's programmes and workshops will "provide civil service leaders with the critical knowledge, practical tools, and forward-thinking strategies" needed to accelerate innovation and embed digital excellence across government agencies.
Alfredo Ayala, Chairperson, PCORP, added: "By equipping public sector leaders with the right digital capabilities, we are not only enhancing government efficiency but also laying the groundwork for broader economic growth and opportunities for citizens in the Philippines."
Lead image / NUS-ISS
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