The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. III (DOST-III / DOST-CL) and WPH Digital, a Singapore-based AI and digital innovation company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate regional digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across Central Luzon.
The collaboration brings the Philippines’ National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS-PH) closer to regional implementation by combining DOST-III’s public-sector mandate with WPH Digital’s expertise in AI, digital transformation, and practical technology implementation.
The agreement was formally signed by Dr. Julius Ceasar V. Sicat, Regional Director of DOST Central Luzon, and Mr. Vincent Leoh, Managing Director of WPH Digital, on 19 August 2026. Held at the opening of the joint program, the ceremony was witnessed by over 50 key delegates and industry leaders representing diverse business, technology, and public sectors from across Central Luzon. ‘We believe AI adoption is not a technology challenge – it is a capability challenge,’ said Mr. Vincent Leoh, Managing Director of WPH Digital. ‘Through WPH Academy, we help people build AI capabilities, and through WPH Digital, we help organisations apply those capabilities using practical AI solutions. When capability building and practical implementation come together, organisations start seeing real value from AI.’
Democratizing Generative AI Across Central Luzon
By bringing enterprise-grade digital expertise directly to Region III, the collaboration demonstrates how government and private-sector organisations can work together to democratize access to advanced Generative AI and cloud computing technologies beyond Metro Manila. The initiative positions Central Luzon as a key regional innovation hub, driving competitiveness across local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), industries, and public sector operations.
Human Capital and Workforce Readiness First
At the heart of the partnership is a strong emphasis on talent reskilling, practical capability-building, and workforce development. Rather than viewing technology solely as a displacement risk, the collaboration equips local professionals and civil servants to use Generative AI as a productivity multiplier-fostering a resilient, highly competitive regional talent pool equipped for modern, future-ready workflows.
As an immediate step toward putting the partnership into action, DOST-III and WPH Digital conducted the Generative AI for Modern Business Operations workshop. The practical capacity-building session provided business leaders, IT professionals, and regional stakeholders with hands-on exposure to practical AI solutions, cloud-native platforms, and execution strategies designed to deliver practical business value.
Beyond training and capability-building, the collaboration is intended to help organisations translate these capabilities into actual implementation, enabling them to identify practical AI opportunities and develop solutions that can be applied within their operating environments.
International Cross-Border Tech Collaboration
The MOU highlights cross-border technology transfer between Singapore’s private sector and the Philippine government. By bringing Singaporean tech consulting expertise to Central Luzon, WPH Digital showcases how international private-sector solutions can actively contribute to regional development goals in organisations and communities across Southeast Asia.
Trusted AI with Certified Governance
The partnership also underscores the importance of responsible and governed AI adoption as organisations move from experimentation to implementation. WPH Digital brings AI governance expertise backed by the internationally recognised ISO/IEC 42001 standard, which provides a structured framework for responsible, secure, ethical, and governed AI adoption.
A Replicable Blueprint for Regional Action
The alliance establishes a repeatable model for regional government-industry partnerships throughout the Philippines. Moving beyond high-level strategy, DOST-III and WPH Digital provide a structured model for continuous technical implementation, capacity building, and enterprise enablement across provincial economies.
The longer-term ambition is for this model to extend from national government agencies to provincial and local government units (LGUs), and eventually across other regions of the Philippines. By connecting national AI priorities with regional capability-building and practical
implementation, the collaboration has the potential to provide a scalable model for AI capability-building and implementation beyond Central Luzon.