PARTNERS FOR THE FUTURE: DigiPlus Foundation and the DICT formalize their alliance to strengthen digital skills and foster innovation at the National Tech4ED-DTC Awards 2025. Through robotics education and ICT-based capacity building, the partnership aims to empower the next generation of Filipinos for the global digital age.
In photo from left to right: Neil Orillaneda, DIgiPlus Foundation’ s Program Manager for TechEd, Angela Camins- Wieneke, DigiPlus Foundation’s Executive Director, Celeste Jovenir, DigiPlus Foundation’s COO and DigiPlus’ VP for Investor Relations, Corporate Communications and Sustainability, Atty. Faye M. Condez – De Sagon, DICT Undersecretary and Chief of Staff, Atty. Leandro Angelo Aguirre, Industry Development and Strategic Initiatives of DICT- Office of the Secretary, and Atty. Celine Melanie A. Dee, DICT’s Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns).
DigiPlus Foundation, the social development arm of DigiPlus Interactive Corp., is solidifying its commitment to digital inclusion, through its tech-education initiative FutureSmart, following a strategic partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to support TechQuest: Regional Robotics Challenge for Academia—a groundbreaking nationwide program designed to strengthen robotics education and empower innovative Filipinos.
Since its launch in 2025, the TechQuest: Regional Robotics Challenge for Academia has successfully upskilled 150 public school teachers and inspired 300 students, providing them with the tools to transition from passive consumers of technology to activate innovators. At present, the DICT-led program has expanded to 15 key regions across the archipelago, reaching schools from Ilocos Norte and Baguio in Luzon, to Cebu and Iloilo in the Visayas, and Davao and Zamboanga in Mindanao.
Through its FutureSmart initiative—a flagship DigiPlus Foundation program centered on technology education—the Foundation’s strategic collaboration with the DICT and active participation in TechQuest stemmed from a shared vision to bridge the digital divide. The partnership underscores a shared mission to equip public school educators and students with the advanced robotics and coding skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly tech-driven society. It represents a steadfast dedication to cultivating a generation of innovators where digital opportunity is accessible to all, regardless of their location.
TURNING TRAINING INTO LASTING OPPORTUNITY: Schools proudly receive their ZMROBO Arduino Kits, empowering teachers to bring robotics and technology learning directly into their classrooms and inspire the next generation of Filipino innovators.
In photo from left to right: Albert C. Gabriel, Focal Person of the ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau of DICT-13, Engr. Lawrence P. Salang, Chief, Technical Operations Division of DICT CARAGA, Neil Orillaneda, DIgiPlus Foundation’ s Program Manager for TechEd, and Edward Christian Gan, Project Lead of DICT – SPARK
Anchored on DigiPlus Foundation’s FutureSmart: Robotics and Coding for Kids framework, the strategic collaboration between the two institutions extends far beyond one-time workshops. By combining the Foundation’s robotics kits with modular training and long-term mentoring, this approach brings high-level technology education to underserved regions and ensures that innovation takes permanent root in the classroom, empowering students long after the initial sessions have ended.
“At DigiPlus Foundation, we see it as our responsibility to inspire and prepare the next generation for the digital economy,” said Angela Camins-Wieneke, Executive Director of DigiPlus Foundation. She added “Robotics offers a meaningful way for Filipino students to develop future-ready skills such as logical thinking, collaboration, and innovation to uplift communities, which is why DigiPlus Foundation invests in technology education that prepares learners for real-world challenges.”
Empowered Future
The true impact of the FutureSmart program is best measured by the transformation of its beneficiaries. For Alberto S. Elcullada, Jr., Teacher III from Surigao del Norte, the program served as a career-defining turning point, bridging the gap between traditional instruction and the future of robotics.
TURNING TRAINING INTO LASTING OPPORTUNITY: Schools proudly receive their ZMROBO Arduino Kits, empowering teachers to bring robotics and technology learning directly into their classrooms and inspire the next generation of Filipino innovators.
In photo from left to right: Albert C. Gabriel, Focal Person of the ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau of DICT-13, Engr. Lawrence P. Salang, Chief, Technical Operations Division of DICT CARAGA, Neil Orillaneda, DIgiPlus Foundation’ s Program Manager for TechEd, and Edward Christian Gan, Project Lead of DICT – SPARK
“I used to teach technology purely from textbooks. Now, thanks to the kits from DigiPlus Foundation and the training from DICT, my students are actually building and coding,” shared Elcullada adding “Seeing their faces light up when their robot moves for the first time, that’s when you know the future of tech in the Philippines is rising.”
The enthusiasm is mirrored by the students, who are now seeing a world of new career possibilities. Rowendel Tablayan, a senior at Bintawan National High School, shared his excitement about the hands-on experience.
“This event is a great opportunity for us to enhance our knowledge, spark our curiosity, and become more interested in the field of robotics,” Tablayan noted, representing a new generation of Filipinos ready to lead in the tech space.
Edward Christian Gan, Project Lead of DICT – SPARK (Strengthening the Philippine Workforce through Adaptive and Responsive Digital Knowledge) said “Students actively collaborated with teachers in learning several aspects of robotics through the provision of essential robotics hardware. Together, they identified the most efficient hardware components that were required for certain tasks, alongside the corresponding codes. A platform like this National Robotics Challenge uplifts the confidence of students and helps them to appreciate careers in coding and fields related to IT that demand creativity and problem-solving skills.”
Unwavering Commitment to Digital Inclusion
In recognition of its significant contributions to digital capacity-building, the strategic collaboration between DigiPlus Foundation and the DICT was honored at the National Tech4ED Digital Transformation Awards 2025. By unifying government reach, academic rigor, and private sector resources, the program has established a replicable blueprint for inclusive growth across the digital landscape
“Our partnership with DICT is a testament to what we can achieve when the public and private sectors align. Together, we are ensuring that no Filipino student, regardless of their location, is left behind in the global digital economy.” the DigiPlus Foundation Executive Director emphasized.
This milestone makes it clear that DigiPlus Foundation will continue to serve as a cornerstone of the country’s digital evolution. The Foundation is committed to deepening its investment in the Filipino youth by expanding the reach of the FutureSmart initiative to more far-flung provinces.
By fostering a culture where coding is a fundamental literacy and robotics is an accessible dream, DigiPlus Foundation is not just supporting a workshop, it is cultivating the next generation of Filipino engineers, innovators, and digital leaders who will carry the nation into the future. Through sustained mentorship and the continued provision of cutting-edge resources, the Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to multiply the good across the country.
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