More business and tourism prospects will arise from the Siargao digital summit

MindanaoHerald | More business and tourism prospects will arise from the Siargao digital summit | BUTUAN CITY – The three-day 1st Philippine Digital Nomad Summit starts on Thursday in Del Carmen, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. The event is meant to bring more business and tourism chances.

Mindanao Development Authority chair Maria Belen Acosta said at the event’s opening ceremony that the first gathering of Filipino and foreign digital nomads (DiNos) is meant to raise knowledge about their way of life through learning sessions and panel discussions.

Acosta said that the event will also publicly mark Siargao as a place to find new ideas and be creative.

She said that DiNos are the “new breed of storytellers who will tell the world that Mindanao is peaceful, beautiful, rich, and ready for more investments.”

Acosta said that the summit was a way to move forward with Mindanao’s general digitalization and innovation plans. This is also one of the main goals set out in the Mindanao Peace and Development Agenda 2023–2028.

Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II said the event shows how powerful the digital age is because it doesn’t matter where you are to work together and learn new things.

Matugas put forward House Bill 8165 in May of this year. It is called the “Digital Nomad Visa Bill” and has already been sent to the House Committee on Justice.

“The Digital Nomad Visa Bill is a bold step toward an open mind about work in the future.” “In a world that is changing quickly and where working from home has become the new normal, we know that we need to give people who choose to live a location-independent life options and support,” he said.

The main parts of the bill are visa accessibility to make it easier and faster for DiNos to apply to live and work in the Philippines, work opportunities that see DiNos not just as tourists but also as skilled professionals, and community building to help the DiNo community grow and thrive.

“The bill is thought to help the economy grow. Getting digital nomads to come to our areas can help our businesses. Matugas said, “They spend a lot of money on lodging, food, transportation, and fun things to do, which is very helpful to our communities.”

The event was also attended by Ivan John Uy, Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Uy said that technology can break down the barriers of regular work.

Uy said, “I’m sure that if we all work together and continue to do so, we can build an environment that will make more DiNos want to make the Philippines, starting with Siargao, their second home.”

The event is being put on by the DICT with help from the Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Abakada Studios, and the Siargao towns of Del Carmen and General Luna. (via PNA)