Making digital dividends inclusive

Abstract

The Philippines, with its new economic growth trajectory, requires reliable, accessible, and affordable infrastructure in information and communications technology (ICT). To maximize digital dividends or the development effects of these technologies, policies need to be formulated and implemented. This Policy Note gives a brief history of the Internet in the Philippines, examines trends in various ICT statistics, discusses issues confronting the ICT sector, and provides policy recommendations to make digital dividends more inclusive. The high cost of ICT services in the country, protecting privacy and data, cybersecurity, and digital literacy are some of the issues identified in this Note. To address these, the government needs to regulate the interconnectivity of networks, build better ICT infrastructures, and expand ICT services to include other sectors for development.