Digital transformation improved further in the Philippines, with the country’s ranking in the United Nations’ e-participation index (EPI) leaping by 31 spots.
According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Philippines now ranks 49th in EPI, an improvement from its 80th spot in 2022.
The EPI is a UN initiative intended to measure how well countries connect to their citizens through online tools.
The EPI is also mirrored in the UN's 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), where the country now ranks 73rd, up from 89th in 2022, besting 16 other countries.
The Philippines achieved an EGDI score of 0.7621, surpassing the global average of 0.6382.
The EGDI measures online service provision, telecommunication connectivity, and human capacity.
DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy owed the achievement to the government’s commitment to digital transformation, particularly its newly launched eGov app, a comprehensive platform that integrates national and local government services ranging from business registration to tourism information.
“This milestone underscores our dedication to making government services more accessible, transparent, and participatory for every Filipino," Uy said.
The application was launched as part of the e-Governance program and which also consolidates job creation, travel declarations, and e-commerce services, among others.
In addition, the DICT is closely coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Tourism, and the Bureau of Immigration to integrate the Philippine eVisa Portal into the eGov Super App.
The initiative aims to simplify the visa application process for tourists and make it easier for them to visit the Philippines.
According to DICT Undersecretary David Almirol, the department plans to collaborate with more agencies to incorporate additional features like citizen reporting modules, job matching system, artificial antelligence (AI) bots, and start-up empowerment.
"Our vision is to empower Filipinos with a citizen-centric solution that simplifies their interactions with the government," he said.
The DICT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with more than 50 government agencies to strengthen this digital shift, cementing its role in improving the nation's global standing in digital governance.