YGG Pilipinas, DICT’s regional architect residency with Sui Foundation produces 50 students
YGG Pilipinas and the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) announced the first results of MFW City, their joint talent development initiative designed to equip Metaverse Filipino Workers (MFWs) with the technical skills, mentorship, and career paths needed to participate in the global digital economy. Its first attempt, carried out in the MIMAROPA region, trained participants in the Move programming language for the Sui blockchain, successfully producing 50 students.
Of all 127 participants, 80% were third-year or higher students in computer science, IT, computer engineering, or related fields, with nearly a quarter having coded for one to two years. The program faced a clear exposure gap, introducing blockchain for the first time to a highly skilled group: 76% had prior exposure to blockchain, and none had knowledge of the Move language.
The program required high commitment, with one online class and one in-person class held each week in Puerto Princesa, accompanied by mentoring sessions with Sui providers and ecosystem partners for feedback and code reviews.
The pilot attracted a mixed group, with one in five women, as well as students from many educational institutions across the region, including Palawan State University, Holy Trinity University, Fulbright College, Association of Computer Scientists (ACS), and STI College.
“We’re happy with the way it went and we’re very proud of the effort everyone put in – DICT, YGG Pilipinas and Metaversity, and especially the students,” said James Wing, head of AAA Gaming Partnerships at Mysten Labs, Sui’s original sponsor.
“We faced a lot of challenges with the weather, and we were able to get strong graduation numbers and really unique, innovative products that we wouldn’t have thought of before. It’s a testament to their patience: being able to adapt on the fly, especially with something as important as not having the internet. There’s always a big need for adaptable builders like these guys.”
Typhoon Tino hit Puerto Princesa on Nov. 4, we brought severe flooding, widespread power outages, and disruptions to internet and mobile communications. It forced the cancellation of the last class, yet the team still achieved a remarkably strong 40% completion rate for the volunteer blockchain engineer program, demonstrating continued commitment to both the technology-intensive curriculum and the disruption of the natural disaster that struck during the program’s final week.
The program culminated in the presentation of students’ capstone projects, where they had to design and implement a working prototype on the Sui blockchain, and present their solution to a panel of judges. The teams were tasked with solving the problem of creating a trusted, verifiable way to recognize community contributions across schools, organizations and online communities, so that these achievements can be reflected when applying for a job.
By piloting in Puerto Princesa, the partnership has demonstrated how regional hubs can serve as replicable models across the Philippines to deliver blockchain education and skills development tracks, in line with DICT’s goal of creating eight million digital jobs by 2028.
DICT MIMAROPA provided the backbone of the program by opening training facilities, computer labs, and Internet access (including Starlink for remote areas), motivating participants through its regional networks, and linking the program with local governments, schools, and community leaders. Likewise, YGG Pilipinas, through its Metaversity platform, facilitated program design and delivery, from curriculum and mentoring to workshops, project runs, demo days, and certifications.
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