The Philippines’ ranking improved by 12 notches, from 83rd place to 71st, in the 2022 Network Readiness Index (NRI), making it the biggest mover among 131 countries in terms of leveraging digital technologies.
The NRI report released by Washington-based Portulans Institute on November 13 cited impact as the Philippines’ main strength and technology as greatest scope for improvement, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The DTI added the Philippines performed considerably well on e-commerce legislation, high tech exports, and ICT services exports.
The report placed the Philippines fifth among the 36 lower middle income economies included in the report, and 13th within Asia-Pacific.
The country outperformed in 10 sub pillars: access, content, future technologies, individuals, governments, trust, regulation, inclusion, economy, and quality of life.
However, it performed weakest on robot density, quality education, research and development by governments and higher education, socio-economic and rural gaps in use of digital payments
DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said several initiatives on digital technologies are in the pipeline including the the enactment of the proposed Internet Transactions Act and amendments to the E-Commerce Act.
Pascual said digital transformation initiatives to address upskilling and reskilling of human capital and businesses are also being scaled up while E-Government or the automation of government processes are being pursued.
