“For the Philippines, this is the moment to prove that increased allocation will deliver results beyond Manila and into the remotest barangays”
IN TODAY’S world, distance should not be a barrier to opportunity.
Whether in bustling cities or remote islands, every Filipino deserves fast, secure, and reliable access to the digital tools that connect people to services, markets, and knowledge.
The proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program reflects this imperative, with ₱87.33 billion allocated for ICT and digitalization.
Of this, ₱18.9 billion is earmarked for the Department of Information and Communications Technology to expand broadband infrastructure, build national data centers, and enhance online government services.
Information Secretary Henry Aguda noted the Department of Budget and Management approved his request to double the DICT’s funding, giving the department the resources to push forward with projects long constrained by limited budgets.
The National Broadband Program will receive ₱1.5 billion to expand access nationwide, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Strengthening backbone, middle-mile, and last-mile connections will link more government offices, schools, economic zones, and communities.
Another ₱303 million is allocated to improve the National Government Portal, which already hosts more than 200 online services.
An additional ₱5 billion through the Free Public Internet Access Program will connect public spaces and state universities, while funding fiber optic cables and LTE units to expand free Wi-Fi nationwide.
The 2026 budget marks a turning point, with the Philippine government putting forward digital infrastructure funding that—while still trailing our neighbors—signals a serious effort to narrow the gap.
Singapore’s FY2025 budget book for the Ministry of Digital Development and Information allocates S$3.06 billion (≈₱124 billion) to agencies including GovTech and the Cyber Security Agency.
Indonesia’s FY2025 budget for the Ministry of Communication and Digital stands at Rp 12.7 trillion (≈₱45 billion), sustaining its satellite and backbone integration programs.
Malaysia’s JENDELA plan, financed by RM 21 billion (≈₱256 billion) through 2025 and complemented by RM 16.5 billion (≈₱201 billion) for 5G rollout, shows how public-private partnerships can accelerate coverage.
Thailand, through its universal service fund, earmarked THB5.8 billion (≈₱9.1 billion) for broadband expansion in 2025. Compared to these figures, the Philippines’ ₱87.33 billion allocation is substantial, but it underscores that we are still catching up.
Global benchmarks underline this.
In the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Development Index, the Philippines ranks 73rd, behind Malaysia at 57, Thailand at 52, and Vietnam at 71.
The 2024 Network Readiness Index places the Philippines 63rd, compared to Malaysia at 36, Thailand at 40, and Vietnam at 45. These indicators show that while our budget has grown, outcomes still lag.
Execution and governance, not appropriation alone, will determine whether Filipinos benefit.
Cybersecurity is equally critical.
The 2026 NEP sets aside ₱457.8 million for the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center and ₱428.9 million for the National Privacy Commission.
These are essential, but regional counterparts are scaling faster. Singapore’s FY2025 budget provides the Cyber Security Agency with S$204.8 million (≈₱8.3 billion).
Indonesia’s National Cyber and Crypto Agency secured Rp 1.32 trillion (≈₱4.7 billion) for 2025. Malaysia’s 2025 national budget allocated RM 10 million (≈₱122 million) for its National Cyber Security Agency and RM 20 million (≈₱244 million) for its National Fraud Response Center.
Vietnam has gone further by mandating that every public agency spend at least ten percent of its IT budget on cybersecurity, a policy first set by Decree 14 in 2019 for 2020–2025 and reiterated by a Prime Ministerial directive in April 2024.
This ensures that security is not an afterthought but embedded in every system.
A digital state rests on two parallel commitments: connectivity and security.
Broadband expansion without protection undermines trust; cyber defenses without universal access leave millions behind.
The 2026 ICT agenda attempts to strike this balance, but success depends on transparent procurement, inter-agency coordination, and timely delivery.
The lesson from ASEAN peers is that budgets alone do not define progress.
Malaysia and Singapore show how long-term planning and collaboration with the private sector translate allocations into tangible services.
Vietnam demonstrates how policy mandates can embed priorities across the bureaucracy.
Indonesia’s experience highlights the value of sustained, multi-year satellite and backbone investments.
For the Philippines, this is the moment to prove that increased allocation will deliver results beyond Manila and into the remotest barangays.
Filipinos will measure success not by the billions in budget books, but by lived experience: when renewing a license online takes minutes instead of days, when schools in far-flung areas have reliable internet, when small farmers reach buyers through digital platforms, and when citizens trust that their transactions are secure.
Whether the 2026 budget translates into a digital economy that empowers every Filipino will depend on our ability to ensure these investments reach people where they are, safeguard their trust, and turn people’s aspirations into societal prosperity.
