UBX, the financial technology (fintech) venture studio of the Aboitiz Group, is leading the multi-sectoral initiative to hasten the government's digital transformation.
UBX officially introduced the Digital Transformation ng Pilipinas (#DigiPinas) Initiative on Thursday, Oct. 27.
The multi-stakeholder advocacy group is composed of platforms and solutions providers, local chief executives, policymakers, national government agency representatives, members of the academe and people organizations.
Together, #DigiPinas members will champion digital transformation in government, supported by enabling laws, policies, and regulations, including Republic Act (RA) 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act; RA 8792 or the Electronic Commerce Act; Executive Order (EO) 170 or the Adoption of Digital Payments for Disbursements and Collections; and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap.
“One of our core values and advocacies in UBX is to include everyone and even though we have come a long way towards a more inclusive Philippines, there is still much more to be done," according to UBX President John Januszczak.
The ongoing pandemic forced the Philippines to accelerate its digital transformation initiatives over the last two years.
This helped push the country's ranking in the latest International Institute for Management Development (IMD)’s 2022 World Competitiveness Yearbook to 48th in 2021
This was a four-notch improvement from the year prior, but still considered second lowest in the Asia Pacific.
With this, #DigiPinas intends to help the government in the development of technologies that transform everyday experiences, particularly government services and transactions.
“Digital transformation is one of the leading thrusts of President Marcos and we have a long way to go to achieve a digital Philippines. We need the partnership from the private sector, working simultaneously with synergy to achieve that goal,” says Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Director Jose Reyes.
The Philippines is facing obstacles in achieving digital transformation such as low digital adoption, lack of awareness, gaps in access, digital skills gap, and complex regulations. Only 26 percent of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were aware of digitalization programs offered.
Meanwhile, 32 percent of households in the National Capital Region (NCR) had access to the internet, but only 5 percent had access in rural regions such as the Bicol province.
“The private sector plays a big role in this vision. We are hoping that a lot of private sector groups will come in to fill the gaps,” noted Dr. Brian Poe Llamanzares of the Office of Senator Grace Poe.
#DigiPinas will identify national government agencies and local government units that it can support through digital transformation, equipping each government partner with digital tools and solutions to bring their services closer to their constituents.
“Digitalizing government services will help reduce inequalities and inequities, as the Internet, as they say, is the greatest equalizer. But we are still far from the new digital world that we seek. #DigiPinas takes a multi-stakeholder approach to address barriers and challenges and help hasten development not only in major cities and provinces, but in rural towns and far-flung areas,” #DigiPinas Spokesperson Mikan Leachon concluded.