Government and private sector must draw up local livelihood and sustainability programs with solutions that will speed up digital adoption down to the grassroots.
“Government and the private sector must work together to identify, analyze, and find the best strategies for the digital transformation of all sectors in a policy environment that will foster a digital economy with thriving industries that are globally competitive and sustainable,” said Dindo Manhit in his presentation on Rational Digital Transformation Strategies and Policies at the 15th Liveable Cities Lab organized by the League of Cities in partnership with Globe Telecom.
Manhit underscored the need to match technology, infrastructure, and tools with talent and next generation of skills, adding digital readiness is also about the people’s readiness.
Manhit said to leverage the opportunities of digital technologies for public health and the economy, there must be openness to continuous innovation of processes and policies.
Vince Tempongko, vice president for Site Acquisition and Management of Globe Telecom in the same forum said the effects of the pandemic particularly in the advancement of digital adoption will stay and affect the way Filipinos work, study, and promote awareness campaigns.
Tempongko said Globe is investing P70 billion this year to increase capacity and expand network with 2,000 new sites to address rising demand for connectivity.
The event also featured discussions on online digital platforms that have transformed ongoing programs in agriculture, eco-tourism, e-education, and environment protection.
According to the VMware Digital Frontiers 3.0 Study done earlier this year, only 76 percent of Filipinos surveyed are open to idea when it comes to the embrace of contactless payment.
This is considered behind other nations in Southeast Asia when it comes to digital bank penetration, as compared to the other region’s average of 85 percent.
Considering this, the financial services industry is still poised for growth with 63 percent of Filipino consumers surveyed happy to engage with financial services firms digitally, and 57 percent feeling excited about the digital services offered by these firms.
The study also said the Philippines’ financial ecosystem needs to create a secure digital foundation to accelerate innovation as consumers place high trust in technologies of the future.
As of end June this year, the country’s fixed broadband subscribers stood at 12.3 million of which PLDT Inc has 6.7 million, Globe Telecom has 4.2 million and Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions, Inc. has 1.4. million subscribers.
Meanwhile, as of the third quarter of last year, the country’s mobile subscribers stood at 151 million–PLDT has 72.4 million and Globe has 78.2 million.
