[PRESS RELEASE] DICT & BPI Recognised at 2025 ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Award for Public Services Transformation and AI-Powered Banking

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) & Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Recognised at 2025 ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Award for Public Services Transformation and AI-Powered Banking

Manila, 23 September 2025-  From 32 nominations in 2017 to 115 this year, the annual ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) Enterprise Innovation Awards recognises Southeast Asian organisations successfully adopting innovative technology to digitally transform their businesses. Out of this year's submissions, 74 nominations were shortlisted as finalists.

Notably, close to 50% of nominations featured artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) initiatives. Southeast Asia is swiftly emerging as an AI powerhouse, with over US$30 billion invested in regional AI infrastructure in the first half of 2024 alone, driving governments and enterprises to rapidly expand data centres and innovation labs. Falling AI deployment costs and rapid technological advancements are lowering barriers, particularly for SMEs, accelerating AI adoption across sectors like financial services, energy, and manufacturing, and positioning ASEAN as a leading innovation hub in the Intelligent Age.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) emerged as the winners from the Philippines for the Open and Data & AI category respectively, and received their awards at the AIBP Conference and Exhibition, held on 23-24 of September, at the City of Dreams, Manila.

The conference spotlights advancements in the digital landscape in the Philippines while addressing the challenges faced by local enterprises and public service organisations in adopting digital transformation.

DICT was recognised for its eGovPH SuperApp, a flagship initiative to centralise and digitise government services in the Philippines. The app provides citizens with a unified platform to access essential services, from digital IDs to business permits and social services. Within its first year, the app has gained over 4.5 million users, simplifying processes, reducing inefficiencies, and promoting transparency in public service delivery. Built with scalability and interoperability at its core, the eGovPH SuperApp reflects DICT’s commitment to building a smarter, more inclusive digital government that enhances service accessibility for citizens nationwide. As David L. Almirol Jr., Undersecretary for e-Government, DICT remarked, “Digital transformation is not just a legacy of today,  it is the foundation of the future generation”, a vision embodied in the SuperApp’s role as a cornerstone of the country’s digital government.

BPI has launched AI-powered insights and analytics systems to elevate customer experience and operational efficiency. Over the past year, the bank has deployed advanced machine learning models to analyse transaction data, enabling personalised financial solutions, sharper risk management, and faster decision-making. BPI’s initiative demonstrates how AI can be responsibly embedded in core banking processes, aligning with its long-term strategy of driving customer-centric digital transformation. Founded in 1851, BPI is the oldest bank in Southeast Asia, employing more than 18,000 staff, with a market capitalisation of approximately US $10.4 billion (~PHP 592 billion) as of September 2025.

From Left:  Irza Fauzan Suprapto, CFA (AIBP); Virginia Braga (BPI); Carlos Palma (BPI); Jedilyn Maraña (BPI); Maria Theresa Silva (BPI); Jelor Gallego (BPI), David L. Almirol, Jr. (DICT); Aeia Minas (DICT); and Monchito B. Ibrahim (National Innovation Council).

DICT and BPI join the list of illustrious past winners, including Abotiz Equity Ventures, AyalaLand, Globe, MERALCO, Megaworld and RCBC among others

***END***

About ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP)

The ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) is an initiative focused on enabling innovation and strategic partnerships across public and private organisations in Southeast Asia. Through curated engagement activities, AIBP supports the growth of regional government agencies, enterprises and solution providers in navigating key themes such as innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability.

Learn more at www.aibp.sg