DOHA 14 October 2024 — Her Excellency Philippine Ambassador to the State of Qatar Lillibeth V. Pono underscored the necessity of digital transformation at the 6th Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP) GCC Convention and 1st Leaders’ Summit on 11 October 2024.

The event bore the theme, “Digital Synergy: Unleashing Sustainable Innovations.”

“Today’s theme is about embracing the new and making the most out of it,” Ambassador Pono said. “It is about testing the limits of the creativity and ingenuity of the Filipino engineer.”

She added that the adoption of new and emerging technologies in industries resonates with the Philippines’ agenda of promoting advanced research and development, technology, and innovation, particularly in the field of engineering. 

“Under the Philippine Development Plan for the years 2023 to 2028, we aim to nurture a supportive environment for R&D, integrate creative arts and social sciences with science and technology, and support globally competitive industries and an agile workforce,” she said.

Participated in by leaders and members of IECEP chapters across the GCC region, the event featured seminars on various topics, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and tech-startups.

On the same day, Ambassador Pono took part in the conferment of 31 new Filipino ASEAN Engineers.

In her congratulatory remarks, she lauded the newly conferred ASEAN Engineers, saying, “Your years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to learning have paved the way for you to be here.”

She added, “As engineers, you do not just help build things, check the structural integrity of your projects, or assess the correctness of wiring installations. The work you do is vital in transforming lives, not just of individuals, but of communities and of nations.”

Ambassador Pono also highlighted the contribution of Filipino engineers in the development of Qatar and the broader Middle East.

“Filipino engineers have an outsized role in helping spur the economies of countries in a region beset by challenging conditions,” she said. “Renowned for their world-class talent and creativity, Filipino engineers have been instrumental — and remain to be so — in the transformation of this region into what it is today.”

For more information, visit dohape.dfa.gov.ph, facebook.com/PHinQatar, or instagram.com/phinqatar.