Around 300,000
underskilled and disadvantaged women are the
target beneficiaries of a
program by the Aboitiz
Foundation, supported by
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), to provide
comprehensive digital
training and employment
opportunities for women
over the next three years.
The joint initiative called Elevate AIDA
(Artificial Intelligence and
Data Annotation) Program
was launched Tuesday
afternoon, where a Memorandum of Understanding
was also signed by DILG
Secretary Benhur Abalos,
Aboitiz Group president
and chief executive officer
Sabin M. Aboitiz, Aboitiz
Foundation president and
chief operations officer
Maribeth L. Marasigan,
and Connected Women
co-founder Ruth Yu-Owen
highlighting DILG’s support for the project.
Abalos said the
program aligns with the
government’s strategy to
promote inclusive growth
for everyone in the country.
“With Elevate
AIDA Program, women will
have more opportunities in
the aspect of technology
and more remote work
options for inclusive and
diverse workplaces. This
is a crucial step towards
building a more innovative
and sustainable workforce
for the Philippines’ digital
future,” he said.
Specifically, the
program will focus on upskilling and reskilling women for future employment,
increasing household
incomes in urban and remote areas through entrepreneurship, freelancing,
and remote work; enabling
access to technology and
training; and supporting
the national digitization
project.
Under the program, target beneficiaries
will be prepared for work
in the AI industry’s data
annotation field, equipping
them with relevant skills
for remote work and professional communication.
Abalos called on
local government units
(LGUs) to support the program and other initiatives
that technologically empower and upskill women.
“Let us remember that our community’s
strength lies in our united
efforts and shared responsibility. When we support
this project [Elevate AIDA],
we do not only empower
women, we are empowering our nation,” he said.
He likewise commended Aboitiz Foundation and its partner Connected Women for working
with the government to improve the lives of women
in the Philippines through
nationwide technology upskilling and income-generatio
