December 7, 2023 – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is committed to intensifying its efforts to push for policies enabling the Philippines to become a “tech-ready” country.

This commitment is driven by the Marcos Administration’s goal of achieving socioeconomic transformation for the country within the medium term. In the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, digitalization is among the six key cross-cutting strategies towards achieving this goal. The Plan recognizes that by leveraging technology, the Philippines can see more significant improvements in efficiency and productivity, ensuring that economic growth is sustained and improves the lives of Filipino citizens.

During the “Shaping a Tech-Ready Future” Digital Conference held on December 6, 2023, NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan emphasized the imperative of addressing the gaps in current policies that constrain the country from effectively preparing for a tech-ready future.

“Experience has taught us that to harness the benefits of the digital revolution, we must first learn how to streamline the country’s regulatory processes and ensure a more efficient framework. In this way, we will improve Filipinos’ overall well-being and fuel the country’s economic growth by expanding the opportunities available to our young and growing workforce,” said Balisacan.

The NEDA Secretary stressed the importance of fostering an enabling and competitive environment for new and emerging technologies to take root in the Philippines. Such policies would allow the country to attract more investments, catalyze job creation, and generate economic prosperity. The NEDA chief also underscored the need to safeguard user privacy and data protection amid the rapid proliferation and development of new technologies, as well as emphasized the importance of working jointly with public and private stakeholders in a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach towards achieving the desired end-goals.

Currently, NEDA is pushing for the passage of the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill. This bill aims to narrow the digital divide in the country by promoting the development of data transmission infrastructure and removing any barriers to competition in data transmission services. This bill was recently included in the priority list of bills under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Common Legislative Agenda and is expected to improve internet connectivity, accessibility, and inclusivity, as well as facilitate digitalization and innovation in the country.

The country’s economic managers are working with the relevant government agencies, especially the Department of Information and Communications Technology, to review and assess how the bill can be further enhanced, considering that the House of Representatives has already approved it on its third reading.

Organized by NEDA and in partnership with the USAID-BEACON Project, the “Shaping a Tech-Ready Future” Digital Conference aimed to impart knowledge and spark discussions among industry experts from the public and private sectors. The conference sought to promote a better understanding of the various new and emerging technologies in pursuit of more responsive policymaking from the Executive and Legislative branches of government.

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