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The Philippines stands at a defining moment in shaping its economic development. Since the pandemic, the country has witnessed the accelerated digital transformation of our economy. Filipino consumers are now able to watch their favorite shows online, order their groceries and medicines online, send digital payments to their loved ones, and obtain digital jobs whose employers are half the world away. According to the Philippine Statistical Authority, the Philippine digital economy grew by 7.7% in 2024, and now constitutes 8.5 percent of our gross domestic product and employs 11.3 million Filipinos.
While the potential for a thriving digital economy is significant, the country continues to lag behind its ASEAN peers when it comes to important metrics like digital inclusion, data transmission infrastructure, and affordable, reliable Internet access. To bridge these gaps and unlock a truly competitive and inclusive digital future, three legislative measures are foundational: the Internet Transactions Act, the E-Governance Act, and the Konektadong Pinoy Act.
Creating a Trusted and Fair Digital Marketplace
The post-pandemic expansion of online commerce has generated considerable opportunities for many Filipino entrepreneurs. However, many Filipino consumers have navigated a digital marketplace where their rights and legal protections were often unclear. The Internet Transactions Act (Republic Act No. 11967) aims to address these regulatory gaps by establishing clear and fair guidelines for both sellers and buyers. This landmark law aims to build trust within the Philippine digital marketplace by mandating greater transparency from all online businesses. Crucially, it also establishes mechanisms for resolving disputes, empowering consumers and online businesses with the legal tools against abusive and unfair practices.
Digital Tools for Better Public Services
Embodying the Marcos administration’s digital transformation agenda, the E-Governance Act envisions a government that is more responsive, efficient, and accessible to its citizens through the use of digital technology. The bill promises a more streamlined, transparent, and citizen-centered delivery of government services through the use of integrated systems and secure, user-friendly digital platforms. By reducing red tape, speeding up government transactions, and improving accountability through transparency measures, the goal is to create a more effective, responsive, and trusted government that better serves the needs of every Filipino, whether offline or online.
Internet Connectivity as a Development Enabler
Finally, the Konektadong Pinoy Act recognizes that affordable and reliable Internet access is no longer luxury but a fundamental prerequisite to a modern and inclusive national
economy. To bridge the ever-growing digital divide, this bill establishes a comprehensive connectivity framework and a regulatory environment designed to lower entry barriers for new participants in the data transmission market. The bill’s key innovations include simplifying the licensing process for Internet network providers; ensuring efficient spectrum management, a vital step in expanding wireless internet coverage to underserved areas; and mandating infrastructure sharing, which reduces operational costs and improves the delivery of services to regions with little or no connectivity.
A Decisive Moment and a Closing Window
Congress has already taken a crucial first step with the passage of the Internet Transactions Act. However, this progress remains incomplete without its two companion measures, the E-Governance Act and the Konektadong Pinoy Act. Together, these three legislative measures represent a complete framework for digital reform and transformation. With the bicameral conference reports for both the E-Governance Act and the Konektadong Pinoy Act ratified in the House and Senate, the digital policy trio is almost complete.
The fate of these key measures now rests in the hands of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
On January 27, President Marcos certified the Konektadong Pinoy bill as urgent. Clearly the President knows that his vision for a digital country will never be a reality without better Internet. Despite this, those who oppose the bill are raising supposed ‘national security concerns’ once the Congressional franchise is removed. They either omit or fail to see that Konektadong Pinoy is for the Filipino consumer. Thankfully, Congress and the President understand that Konektadong Pinoy will pave the way for Filipinos to access cheaper and more reliable Internet.
The President has consistently called on public institutions including LGUs to embrace e-government. The E-Governance bill promotes a whole-of-government approach and gives importance to capacity building in order to benefit from digital government services.
As the future of a truly empowered and connected Philippines hangs in the balance, we cannot afford to delay. President Marcos must act swiftly and decisively to lead our country’s digital transformation.
Dr. Roberto Martin N. Galang is dean of the John Gokongwei School of Management at the Ateneo de Manila University, and chairs the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia
