Digitalization, the call of today

There is no denying that the Philippines needs digital transformation more than ever. But it is a process – a process that needs to be undertaken in all areas of society to achieve inclusive development in order to ensure progress and, generally, a better way of life.

I was never a tech girl – at most growing up and in the early stages of my career, however, because time changes and affects our lives in different ways, I learned to be one and I must say, I am still learning.

Perhaps as we progress further in life, it is even safer to say that everything and everyone has gone digital. From Shanghai to the United Kingdom, and even in the old Spanish town where my father once lived, everyone has gone digital and digitalization is waiting for no one, yet everyone is included. Even old conventional shops whose owners have witnessed the days of Generalissimo Franco have learned to adapt and create new ways of getting their products to compete in the international market.

I once only used to have my “alparagatas” made to order but thanks to Toni Pons, our childhood espadrille staples have come to life – globally. Just a very small example of how technology should be working for us and with the pandemic being perhaps one of our greatest teachers, our current administration is stepping up to the challenge of digitalization.

In his 10-point agenda for economic renewal and long-term growth, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defined his vision for a “Digital Philippines” with projects made to address the digital divide, promote innovation and improve literacy for all Filipinos nationwide.

Being among the 194 member-states of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), the ITU launched the Digital Transformation Center (DTC) initiative in 2019 in partnership with Cisco, one of the leading companies in the IT industry, which supports countries in building digital capacities of their citizens, particularly those in underserved communities.

With our eyes and ears always on small and medium businesses, selected DTCs became part of a global network of institutions meant to accelerate the reception of digital technologies among citizens and boost the capacity of young entrepreneurs and, as it goes, the ITU selected the Philippines as one of its DTCs in the Asia Pacific region, giving an opportunity to our country to advance in its digitalization initiatives in order to achieve full digital transformation.

Such a move is significant for small and medium enterprises in order to succeed in the digital economy. In his State of the Nation Address last year, President Marcos expressed that digitalization is the call of today – not of the future but of the present – and that it is needed today. With this call, the Department of Information and Communications Technology or DITC took action in maximizing projects and further promoting digital literacy efforts in order to enhance the people’s skills and capacity.

In the Marcos administration, digital inclusion also plays a key component by bringing technology to the grassroots, as access to it has become a necessity for social and economic development. During the Local Governance Summit in 2024, President Marcos told representatives of local governments the importance of promoting smart solutions and strategies that would help people persevere even in the worst of situations, where the health and wellbeing of the people are threatened.

The Marcos administration emphasizes that no Filipino should be left behind and prioritizing people through digital development is essential in order for them to achieve sustainable growth. Inclusive digital transformation despite navigating through the challenges also puts a proper focus on resilient digital infrastructure in order to ensure a digital future for all, especially for the most vulnerable communities in our country.

Digitalization is a call of today as it is a propellant – an investment that goes beyond providing technology but also a means to pave the way for a more inclusive future with the potential to reshape how people participate in democracy and governance.