President Marcos Calls for Digitalization in the Philippines
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the urgent need for the Philippines to embrace digitalization to stay competitive with neighboring countries. He stated this during Part 3 of the third episode of the PBBM Podcast titled “Sa Likod ng Sona,” which aired recently. The president highlighted how digital transformation is essential for the country’s progress, especially in government transactions and business operations.
“We need to keep up with our neighbors in digitalization to compete effectively,” the president said. He encouraged Filipinos to adopt the eGov App when dealing with government offices, reinforcing the administration’s push for streamlined, efficient service delivery.
Challenges of Manual Government Transactions
Marcos pointed out that traditional manual processes at government offices consume too much time and effort. He described the frustrating experience many Filipinos face when documents are delayed or incomplete, often leading to additional visits and even reliance on fixers.
“It takes three days, because you think your document is finished, they say, ‘Oh, no, there’s still something missing. Go there.’ Then the fixer comes to you. Ay nako, the whole experience, the whole bad experience. So, that cannot – that doesn’t work anymore,” he explained.
The president stressed that to thrive as an economy, the Philippines must match the digital advancements of countries like China, Singapore, and Korea.
Digital Skills as a Must for Education
Beyond business and government, Marcos underscored the importance of digital literacy in education. He stated that it is now “absolutely imperative” for children to learn how to use computers and the internet, stressing that it’s no longer optional in today’s world.
eGov Super App Simplifies Government Services
Expressing satisfaction with the eGov Super App, Marcos revealed that he emphasized simplicity during its development. The app aims to make accessing government services as easy as using popular social media platforms.
“We looked, we did a little study, and there are 89 million Filipino Facebook users. So, I said our app, our eGov app, if you can do Facebook, you can do eGov app,” he said.
In his recent State of the Nation Address, the president highlighted the eGov Super App as a cornerstone of his administration’s effort to bring government services closer to the people.
Ensuring Transparency and Efficiency
Marcos vowed during a recent event that corruption will have no place in transactions conducted through the eGov Super App and the eGovPH Serbisyo Hub.
“My instruction to them: no corruption, no fixers, no long lines. That’s what we’ll gain through the eGovPH app and the one-stop shop we inaugurated today,” he said in Filipino during the launch at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center.
This push for transparency and convenience signals a promising shift toward a more digital and efficient government service system for Filipinos nationwide.
For more news and updates on digitalization, visit Filipinokami.com.
