In support of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship, the strategic partnership promotes secure digital identity, trusted services, and responsible AI governance across the region.
Sumsub and Go Digital Philippines (GDP), a collaborative public and private sector movement for inclusive digital transformation, have formed a strategic partnership to strengthen the Philippines’ digital economy through secure digital identity, trusted digital services, and responsible artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in the country, ahead of its ASEAN 2026 Chairship.
The partnership establishes a comprehensive roadmap to further fortify the nation’s digital landscape in line with ongoing efforts by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), while bolstering the Philippines’ position as a regional leader in the deployment and governance of trusted technology.
“The Philippines is a cornerstone of our APAC strategy. Since entering the market in 2024, we’ve seen firsthand how rapid growth in fintech and digital payments has made it one of the most exciting economies in the region. However, it continues to face the challenge of building a foundation of trust that can keep up with such rapid innovation,” said Andrew Sever, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sumsub. “We believe trust is the core layer of the digital economy, and today, that trust depends on how AI is governed. By expanding our presence in the Philippines and working closely with local businesses, regulators, governments, and industry associations, we are adapting our global expertise to local realities. Through our partnership with Go Digital Philippines, we are aligning our AI-driven solutions with a national vision to ensure digital services are safe, inclusive, and friction-free, helping the Philippines set the ASEAN benchmark for a secure digital future.”
A multi-pronged strategy for digital resilience in the Philippines and ASEAN
The partnership between Sumsub and GDP bridges private-sector innovation with national and regional policy. By establishing a structured pathway for engagement with the DICT and other key stakeholders, it focuses on strengthening digital identity solutions, ensuring the safe use of AI, and lifting trust standards across online services—supporting DICT’s vision of a secure, inclusive, and digitally empowered society.
Beyond domestic initiatives, Sumsub and GDP will contribute to the ASEAN AI Workstream within the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, focusing on cross‑border payments interoperability and safer digital finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and consumers. By sharing practical insights on AI‑driven fraud defense, agentic AI, secure data sharing, cross‑border payments architecture, and financial‑sector risk and compliance models, Sumsub and GDP aim to help shape a responsible, trust‑focused digital agenda for the region.
"This collaboration aligns with our vision of a fully inclusive and digitally empowered Philippines by 2035,” emphasized Atty. Mark Gorriceta, Chairman of Go Digital Philippines. “Partnering with a global leader such as Sumsub allows us to foster responsible technology adoption and equip Philippine businesses with governance frameworks and tools needed to thrive in a secure digital landscape."
Strengthening Digital Trust in the Philippines
Sumsub’s enhanced presence in the Philippines is anchored by a strategic roadmap to invest in the local market and deepen institutional collaboration. By scaling its on-the-ground team, the company is strengthening its ability to respond with greater agility to local regulatory shifts, emerging fraud patterns, and the practical needs of regulated financial institutions and digital service providers in the country.
This localized approach is further supported by deeper ecosystem partnerships with key local players such as Nexus Technologies and other market stakeholders, co-creating solutions for the Philippine market and lifting digital trust standards across the ecosystem.
“Our priority is to build a robust community of fintechs, banks, and digital platforms committed to strengthening the country’s digital defenses,” added Penny Chai, Vice President, APAC, Sumsub. “Through our partnership with Go Digital Philippines and continued investment in local capabilities, we are scaling our presence to support the national transformation agenda. By convening industry and government leaders through platforms like the Digital Trust and AI Governance Forum, we ensure our global expertise directly empowers a secure, inclusive, and resilient Philippine economy.”
Formal Launch at the Sumsub Digital Trust and AI Governance Forum
The alliance was officially inaugurated at the Sumsub Digital Trust and AI Governance Forum in Manila on April 14, marking the formal launch of Sumsub’s focused initiatives in the Philippines. The Forum served as a strategic platform to reaffirm Sumsub’s long-term commitment to investing in the country and supporting national priorities in digital transformation and trusted technologies.
A central milestone of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sumsub and GDP, witnessed by leaders from the DICT, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and British Embassy Manila. This agreement establishes a high-impact public-private partnership for AI transformation, aligning private-sector innovation with government policy.
About Go Digital Philippines
Go Digital Philippines is a collaborative movement uniting individuals, businesses, and leading organizations to accelerate digital transformation, bridge the digital divide, and drive inclusive innovation across the Philippines.
