The Philippine administration ought to enact encouraging measures for burgeoning technologies such as quantum technology, asserting that these advancements are anticipated to deliver long-term advantages, as stated by a senior official from the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).
Enrico C. Paringit, the executive director of PCIEERD, expressed this viewpoint, referencing the difficulty of persuading leaders—who typically have brief terms, generally three years—to commit to long-term technologies that will yield returns in approximately five to ten years.
“That’s indeed the present challenge,” Mr. Paringit commented to journalists on the inaugural day of the Quantum Information, Science, and Technology Conference (QISTCon) in Cebu on Wednesday.
“We must make them understand that this is a prolonged endeavor, yet one that is ultimately achievable, and a prolonged endeavor that will certainly justify the time and effort we will invest in it,” he further elaborated.
Meanwhile, Secretary Renato J. Solidum Jr. of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) remarked during his presentation that the Philippines cannot afford to overlook investments in quantum technology, as other nations are already making strides in this area.
Nations such as Singapore have invested billions of dollars in creating its Centre for Quantum Technologies, which serves as the country’s principal quantum research hub.
“Our neighbors aren’t merely advancing,” Mr. Solidum noted. “They are positioning themselves. If we do not act—decisively, creatively, and collaboratively—we may find ourselves once more seeking permission to embrace the future.”
A study from McKinsey & Company, a leading global consulting firm, indicated that quantum technology is anticipated to achieve $97 billion in worldwide revenue by 2035 and to expand significantly to $198 billion by 2040.
Bobby O. Corpus, President of the Quantum Computing Society of the Philippines (QCSP), informed reporters that the technology will induce a paradigm transformation that could dramatically enhance productivity across almost all sectors in the country, particularly in health, agriculture, and finance.
Mr. Solidum conveyed his hope that through the unique Filipino spirit of cooperation, known as ‘bayanihan’, the nation is destined for advancements in quantum technology.
The country’s recent inaugural QISTCon highlighted that spirit of collaboration, uniting local experts and stakeholders with international thinkers who shared insights into their advancements in the field.
“We urge all researchers, educators, policymakers, students, and entrepreneurs present to acknowledge that what you develop here—roadmaps, frameworks, strategies, partnerships—will contribute to the foundation of a future for the Philippines centered on quantum innovation,” Mr. Solidum stated. – Edg Adrian A. Eva