Digitalization can be a tool for inclusion, innovation, resilience and good governance, a political science and security expert said during an online forum organized by think tank Stratbase ADR Institute.
“We really need to think of our way forward. We are doing this because we believe that engaging citizens will enable government to be more responsive,” said Dr. Sherwin Ona, associate professor in political science and development studies at De La Salle University.
The forum coincided with the launch of Ona’s special study, one among a series of Stratbase policy papers, entitled “Digitalization Agenda 2022: Towards a Resilient Philippines Through Digital Transformation and Inclusion.”
“If we create open spaces, new things will flourish, we can engage more. We can stamp corruption out. Services will be more efficient, more transparent,” he said.
Ona believes that the government should first address digitalization in three sectors: public health, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and education.
“If we’re going to invest in digital transformation, then these three sectors can really push those investments forwards, and we will have benefits which we can immediately reap,” he said.
A double-edged digital sword
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an era of digital platforms for shopping, financial transactions, and virtual work arrangements, Ona said.
“These allowed the continuation of economic activity and the fostering of social cohesion. New practices in learning and telehealth have allowed economies to avoid the severe effects on productivity and wellbeing, thus allowing essential interactions to continue without the risk of infection,” he said.
But technology, he warned, can also hurt people. “We have seen the spread of fake news which resulted in rumors and undesired actions from our citizens.”
Moreover, the pandemic-induced lockdowns exposed the Philippines’ lack of a long-term digitalization strategy and its failure to invest in digital infrastructure.
“If you’re a government, digital transformation is about listening to citizens and knowing their demands.”
Three components
In his paper, Ona proposed the operationalization of the Digital Agenda 2022 into three components.
Digital transformation highlights the ability of the government to transform its services to an integrated, cross-organizational platform that is citizen-centric.
Digital inclusion emphasizes the importance of addressing societal deficits concerning the digital divide.
These technologies, he said, should be used to address the concerns of marginalized groups, especially with the pandemic still here. This should be a tool to address inequalities.
“I cited an ADB study that claimed only 20 percent of students were able to avail of online distance learning. What happened to the 80 percent?”
Finally, the protection of the country’s digital infrastructure proposes a shift from the current cybercrimes perspective to cyber defense.
“We must protect our infrastructure. We cannot adopt all of these things without being conscious of how to protect privacy, protect citizens in particular, and of course our digital infrastructure in general.”
A tall order for the next leader
“If the incoming administration will embrace digital transformation as a way forward, it should have a whole-of-society philosophy. It should, in my opinion, embrace the idea of digital by default, privacy by design, and good governance principles,” Ona said.
He suggests the following concrete points for the next administration: develop a digitalization strategy and roadmap, convene an executive level task force that will oversee the implementation of the strategy, convene a digitalization summit, support the development of Communities of Practice (COP), and new laws on digital government and cyber defense that will provide the needed legal framework for service integration, interoperability, and data governance in the public sector.
“We need to create this long-term vision of what we want to be, and if we are going to invest in digital transformation in any reform endeavor for that matter, we should know where we’re going. It’s not only the next six years. This is an investment that we will do strategically – long term.”
Stratbase ADR Institute president Professor Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, in his opening remarks at the forum, said institutional governance reforms should be both future-oriented and values-based.
“The priority has to be the delivery of service to the general public, improvement of the quality of life of the Filipino, and achievement of global competitiveness,” he said.
This, he said, should help us determine whom to vote for in the May 9 elections. “Looking at them, analyzing where they stand, can they really be institution builders with the right understanding and vision for the Filipino nation?” he challenged the audience.
Other speakers who also presented their policy papers as part of the Stratbase series of special studies include Dr. Francisco “Kiko” Magno, Trustee & Program Convenor, Stratbase ADR Institute; Professor of Political Science, De La Salle University; Ms. Zy-za Nadine Suzara, Executive Director, iLEAD, and Dr. Rizal Buendia Philippine Country Expert, Global V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Non-resident fellow, Stratbase ADR Institute.