"Innovation is the driving force behind progress. In the context of the future of work, it involves embracing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and reimagining traditional processes."

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John E. Uy made the declaration during the recently concluded Future of Work Conference organized by the Quezon City Government, the first of its kind event held in the country.

He also highlighted the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to build a conducive environment for growth and innovation.

In his keynote speech at the opening of "INNOVATE. ADAPT.THRIVE: The Quezon City Future of Work Conference 2023," Uy assured the stakeholders present at the conference that his department is committed to supporting businesses and local government units as they "traverse the digital transformation journey."

He also lauded Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte for leading the way for businesses in the city to navigate the transformative path of the future of work.

"Let this conference serve not only as a moment of reflection on the dynamic landscape of business and technology but as a call to action, innovate with purpose, adapt to change, and thrive in the future of work," Uy added.

Utilizing AI and the digitization of the workplace were among the topics discussed in the two-day conference. To prepare business establishments for the future of work, the conference communicated relevant strategies and best practices for creating safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable workplace environments.

In her opening speech, Belmonte invited participants to work closely with the Quezon City government "to craft a vision so we can embrace a future where innovation knows no bounds, resilience becomes our strength, and that responsibility and accountability are fundamental."

"A related challenge for all stakeholders is empowering our workforce to adapt to the fourth industrial revolution. We will learn how to maximize our workforce through investments in education as well as retooling and upskilling and to support them better both mentally and physically as they navigate through unfamiliar territory in order to adjust to changing times," she said.

"Together let us embark on this journey into the future of work," Belmonte added.

The two-day summit held on 13 and 14 November was attended by more than 500 C-level business leaders in charge of operations, human resources directors as well as compliance and safety officers.

Among the speakers were C40 Cities Executive Director Mr. Mark Watts, who discussed in Plenary 5 "From Risk to Resilience: Climate Action and Disaster Risk Management in the Workplace"; while Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Lord Villanueva tackled Plenary 1, "Doing Well by Doing Good" (Best of the Best Business Practices); Plenary 2 was about "AI, Flexi-work and Cyber Security: Shaping the Tech-Ready Workplace" by DICT Undersecretary David Almirol; Plenary 3 was about "From Good to Great – The Science Behind the Best Workplaces" by Managing Partner of the Great Place to Work Antoinette Mendoza-Talosig; Plenary 4 was about "Safe Spaces: Right of One, Right of all" by Senator Risa Hontiveros; and Plenary 6 was about "On the Rise – Jobs of the Future" discussed by the Founder of PEOPLElogy Group Allen Lee Chin Min.

Among the panelists were the National President of the Philippine Association of Building Officials (PABO) National Inc., Archt. Edison Ching Padilla; Director General of Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Samuel Zacate; Chief of Bureau of Fire Protection Director Louie Puracan; President of National Association of Business Permits and Licensing Officers Atty. Melanie S. Malaya; Senior Vice President for Operations of SM Supermalls Bien Mateo; Assistant Vice President and Head of Eastwood City Estate Management Anton Calugay; President & Co-Founder of Intentionality Inc and Owner of Rags2Riches Reese Fernandez-Ruiz; President and Co-Founder of Human Nature Anna Meloto-Wilk; Urban Planner Consultant Mark Roeland De Castro; Co-Founder of Jurist AI Jay Basco; and Vice President for AI and Head of Sprout AI Labs Gian dela Rama.

Also in attendance were President of Quezon City University, Dr. Theresita Atienza; Co-Founder & Chief Business Development Officer of Bizbaz Vincent Choy; Chief Executive Officer of Connected Women Agnes Gervacio; Remotify Founder & CEO Maria Sucgang; CEO of Edukasyon.ph Grace David; Head of QC Youth Development Office, Dr. Eddilyn DC. Dividina; HR Consultant for Labor Standards & Health IBPAP Teresa Azicate; Associate Dean from Asian Institute of Management, Dr. Michelle Antero; Head of QC Information Technology Development Department Paul Rene Padilla; Author of "The Mind of the Black Hat: Understanding Today's Cyber Criminals" Dennis Paul Nino S. Sanchez.

Chief Cybersecurity Evangelist and Customer Field CISO and ePLDT/PLDT Enterprise Alexis Bernardino; Head of QC Human Resource Management Department, Atty. Noel del Prado; OIC – Executive Director of Occupational Safety and Health Center, Engr. Jose Maria S. Batino, CESU IV; Division Chief of the Healthy Workplace and Healthcare Facilities Division (HW-HFCD) under the Health Promotion Bureau of the Department of Health, Dr. Rosalind G. Vianzon; Action Officer from the Office of the Vice Mayor of Quezon City Christella Buen; and Acting Assistant Commissioner for Human Resource Governance Nerissa Canguilan, likewise, attended.

Also, seen at event were Country Human Resources and Managing Director of Accenture in the Philippines Ira Reyes; President Project Red Ribbon and Vice President of My Hub Cares Ico Rodulfo Johnson; Co-Founder and Executive Director of #MentalHealthPH Roy Dahildahil; and Chief Executive Officer of Mind You Philippines Yuri Marshall.

To include among the panelists were Head of QC Gender & Development Council Technical Working Group Janete Oviedo; Head of QC Persons with Disability Affairs Office Deborah Dacanay; from Policy Development, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PDPMED) of the Philippine Commission on Women, Atty. Ma. Sophia Isabella De Castro.

Director of Quezon City Police District, P/BGen. Redrico Atienza Maranan; HR Executive Cognizant Technology Solutions Anjelo Cabigting; from OpenTable Metropolitan Community Church Rev. Cristopher Joseph San Jose; from Right to Care Movement Adrian De Guzman; Advocate for Disability Inclusion in the Philippines Maria Criselda Bisda; and the Officer-in-Charge of QC Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office Ma. Bianca Perez.

Administrator from the Office of Civil Defense & Executive Director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Usec. Ariel F. Nepomuceno; Secretary General of Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative Atty. Violeta Seva; Co-Chair of the Board of Directors from ARISE Philippines & Consultant, National Resilience Council Usec. Alexander Patino Pama, Women's International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction Philippines (WINDRR PH) Convenor & President of NU – Asia Pacific College Dr. Ma. Teresita Pastor-Medado; UP Resilience Institute Director for Institution Building Mr. Genaro A. Cuaresma; Manager of the Disaster Management Service Criselda Longga;

President of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) Rene "Butch" Meily; City Engineer from QC Department of Engineering Atty. Dale Diamond Perral; Board Member and the Director-In-Charge of Disaster Resilience Committee and Safety Organization of the Philippines Mr. Martin T. Aguda, Jr.; Head of QC Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department Andrea Villaroman; Specialist at the International Finance Corporation Pearl Mars; from the QC Green Awards, Founder & Owner of the Through Habit Ms. Danica Magat; Transport Cyclist and Urban Planner Founder Aldrin Pelicano; and the Head of Corporate Planning and Strategy of Robinsons Land Corporation Ramon Rivero.

Among the moderators were the Chairman of Dr. Carl Balita Review Center CEB Group of Companies Dr. Carl E Balita; President of Maginhawa Food Community and Communications Coordinator Jules Guiang; Anchor from ONE News & Bloomberg TV Ph Daniela Laurel; Senior Consultant of Enterprise Information Security Ernest Ocson; and Former Commissioner of National Youth Commission Percival Cendaña.