The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) aims to make the Philippines the second-fastest and most affordable provider of digital services in Southeast Asia by the end of the Marcos administration in 2028.
Speaking at the 2026 Telecommunications Summit, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the goal reflects the president’s ambition for the country to rank either first or second in the region before his term concludes.
Aguda said that while progress has been made in internet speed and coverage, the Philippines continues to lag behind several ASEAN neighbors.
The digital divide remains a significant hurdle to this goal. In Metro Manila, nearly seven of 10 households have internet access, but the figure drops to three or four out of 10 in many parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
“This is not just a digital divide. It is an opportunity divide. Without connectivity, there is also no access to online education, digital jobs, e-commerce, financial services, and even basic government services,” Aguda said.
To address these gaps, the government has introduced what it calls “The ultimate digital glow-up roadmap of the Philippines.”
A central pillar of the strategy is the Konektadong Pinoy Act, which seeks to remove long-standing barriers to entry in the telecommunications industry through smart regulation.
Aguda said smart regulation is not anti-business but rather a way to enable scaling by managing limited resources like spectrum and infrastructure sharing. He estimated that if the Philippines matches the telecommunications infrastructure of Malaysia, the country could see a GDP boost of up to 1.1 percent.
“Infrastructure sharing alone means lower costs, faster expansion, and wider coverage. Smart regulation is not anti-business. It allows business to scale. But reform alone is not enough,” Aguda said.
The second component of the roadmap is the National Digital Connectivity Plan (NDCP). As the nation’s first infrastructure master plan for digital connectivity, it is expected to bring in P5.6 trillion in investment by aligning policy and execution across various sectors.
Aguda said the NDCP treats digital connectivity as a strategic national priority with a vision of providing fast and reliable service to unserved and underserved areas.
He said the success of these initiatives depends on a real partnership with the telecommunications industry to ensure a structural, long-term “glow-up” felt by every Filipino.
