DICT and DTI Collaborate to Empower Philippine Blockchain Week 2023

Philippines’ flagship blockchain event returns in Manila, September 19 to 21, 2023

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have announced their joint support for Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2023. This highly anticipated event will take place from September 19 to 21, 2023, at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Newport World Resorts in Manila, Philippines.

During the conference, DICT Director Emmy Lou Delfin and DTI Director Jo-Dann Darong discussed how Philippine Blockchain Week will assist the government in fulfilling its commitment to enhancing collaboration, innovation, and digitization in the country.

Currently, approximately 6.13% of the Filipino population, or nearly 7 million individuals, own cryptocurrency, and 32% of Filipino internet users possess non-fungible tokens (NFTs). With this in mind, Dr. Donald Lim, Founding President of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP) and lead Convenor of Philippine Blockchain Week, stated that the Philippines is on track to becoming a global blockchain capital.

The event is expected to attract thousands of attendees from various industries and regions worldwide, bringing together influential leaders from the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry.

The theme for this year’s Philippine Blockchain Week is “BRKOUT” which aims to encourage participants to break free from conventions and comfort zones, abandon old habits in favor of new opportunities, and emerge as leaders in the blockchain space.

Reflecting the current state of the industry, the event will feature immersive discussions on topics such as blockchain, fintech, the metaverse, regulation, artificial intelligence, privacy, and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Dir. Delfin mentioned that the DICT will spearhead “Blockchain 101,” an initiative that will educate thousands of students across the National Capital Region (NCR) about the industry’s opportunities. The DICT will also conduct focus group discussions for government officials to promote the utilization of blockchain technology in storing government data.

DTI Dir. Darong expressed support for adopting a comprehensive approach to integrating blockchain technology into various industries.

“At DTI, we promise to support all initiatives that aim to make the Philippines not just innovative and creative, but also more competitive through blockchain,” he said.

Darong added that the Philippine Blockchain Week provides an excellent platform for cultivating creativity and innovation, aligning with the department’s vision for the inaugural celebration of the Philippine Creative Industry Month in September.

Lim emphasized that government support and collaboration will strengthen blockchain adoption and innovation in the country.

“Government intervention and support have always been critical for the adoption of blockchain technology in any country. For the Philippines, our government’s open-minded stance will be instrumental in positioning us as the blockchain capital of Asia,” Lim said.

In addition to government partnerships, Philippine Blockchain Week announced a unique collaboration with renowned Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco, who will be venturing into the blockchain space for the first time. Cinco, known for dressing Hollywood celebrities and royalty, will collaborate with PBW to host a Metaverse Fashion Gala, showcasing the fusion of fashion and the metaverse. Cinco’s involvement adds excitement to the event and signifies the potential of tapping into various industries yet to explore blockchain technology.

Other highlights of the event include a venture capital-startup matchmaking event in partnership with CNN Philippines’ business reality show, “The Final Pitch”; a gaming expo in collaboration with Tier One Entertainment, featuring gamers, streamers, and cosplayers for meet and greets and gaming exhibitions; and the live global announcement of finalists for the prestigious NFTY Awards, a global Web 3 awards show.

The NFTY Awards was created by Tech Entrepreneur/Investor Chris J Snook and E! Entertainment Founder Larry Namer, who formed their partnership after meeting at the inaugural Philippine Blockchain Week in November 2022.

On the local awards scene, the Philippine Block Awards will return to honor leaders in the finance, technology, and business industries for their support and promotion of blockchain adoption in the country.

To secure a spot at Philippine Blockchain Week 2023, early bird registration with discounts is currently available at https://www.pbw.ph/.