Philippines secures ₱1.9-billion EU-led funding to boost digital transition, disaster response
By Derco Rosal
At A Glance
- To support the Philippines' digital transition and technological innovation in key sectors, the Philippine government has secured funding of around ₱1.9 billion from the European Union (EU), Finland, and France.
The Philippine government has secured about ₱1.9 billion in funding from European Union (EU), Finland, and France to accelerate its digital transition and enhance disaster response capabilities.
In particular, the EU-Philippines Digital Economy Package will be financed with 20 million euros (approximately ₱1.36 billion) from EU, plus two million euros (around ₱136 million) from Finland, and 600,000 euros (around ₱40.9 million) from France.
The major sectors that will benefit from the package include 5G networks, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) in earth observation, and digital connectivity.
According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the new EU-Philippines partnership aims to strengthen digital, energy, and transport infrastructure while boosting health, education, and research systems across the world.
EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro said the EU is “delighted to work with the Philippines in creating innovative solutions that promote inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.”
Newly appointed Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said in a Nov. 20 statement that the project will provide the Philippines with secure and reliable digital connectivity, allowing high-speed, real-time access to Copernicus data.
“This will allow the government to better prepare for natural disasters, respond faster in times of crisis, and provide immediate relief to Filipino families—and we need this now more than ever,” Go said.
Under the partnership, the EU Copernicus Philippines program is expected to be strengthened, using satellite data to help the government manage disasters, monitor the environment, and boost private-sector productivity.
“By applying AI to earth observation, the program will help the Philippine government develop new smart solutions for a range of policy issues—from food security to mapping infrastructure,” the DOF said.
According to the DOF, Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) will lead the implementation of this partnership alongside European partners.