19 January 2024, CANBERRA - Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega welcomed the delegates to the Benchmarking Study Visit on Digital Transformation led by Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Karlo Alexei Nograles to the Official Residence on 18 January 2024.

The delegation visited Adelaide from 14 to 17 January, and Canberra from 17 to 19 January, to attend a 5-day training course run by the University of Adelaide, which was engaged by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program - Philippines to assist Philippine Government agencies develop and implement digital transformation strategies. The training course included engagement with Australian Government agencies, at the State and Federal levels, responsible for leading the digital transformation of government services and the development of a workforce skilled in digital and data capabilities.

The delegation included Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Maria Francesca Montes-del Rosario, DBM Undersecretary Wilford Will Wong, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Officer in Charge - Undersecretary Ma. Monica Pagunsan, CSC Assistant Commissioner Judith Chicano, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro Uvero, CSC Acting Assistant Commissioner Karin Litz Zerna, CSC Director Noreen Boots Gocon-Gragasin, DBM Director Gerald Janda, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Director Maria Victoria Castro, DTI Director Joel Cruz, and CSC Information Technology Officer Marlyn Damaso. - END