Statement of the Philippines at the 59th Session of the Commission for Social Development

STATEMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

59th Session of the Commission for Social Development (Virtual Meeting)
Theme: “Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all”

11 February 2021

HON. ROSEMARIE G. EDILLON

Undersecretary for Policy and Planning

National Economic and Development Authority

Chair, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, all protocols observed as I greet you good morning from the Philippines.

That I am able to address you today, from the Philippines, amid the COVID19 pandemic is testament to the important role of digital technology.  And such innovation should be shared, in keeping with our commitment to prosperity but sustainable development and inclusivity: Leave no one behind.

The COVID19 pandemic has radically changed the way we live.  Work and learning environments had to be transformed, mainly because there cannot be many people inside a closed space.  And we had to rely on digital technology, whenever and wherever possible.

A study conducted by the World Bank in the Philippines entitled “Philippines Digital Economy Report 2020 : A Better Normal Under COVID-19 – Digitalizing the Philippine Economy Now”[1], observes that “the use of digital technologies such as digital payments, e-commerce, telemedicine, and online education, is rising in the Philippines and has helped individuals, businesses, and the government cope with social distancing measures, ensure business continuity, and deliver public services during the pandemic.”

The new challenge now is to expand the adoption of digital technology.  The same WB study suggests how this can be done:

1. Governments should lead as examples

A number of business to government, public to government transactions and vice-versa have been migrated to online platforms.  Initially, it was a way of ensuring service continuity amid the pandemic.  Later on, other advantages became apparent; not the least of which is to avoid having crowds and long queues in government offices.  Technology was also employed in the delivery of services, like in the delivery of health care. Led by the Department of Health (DOH)[2], telemedicine has been promoted to alleviate the surge and minimize the risks posed by unnecessary traffic in hospitals. Hotlines and websites were set up and private service providers were tapped to extend free medical consultation services.  Telemedicine is also seen as an enabler for patient referral systems.

2. Provide the enabling environment

The massive rollout of digital infrastructure, ensuring its quality and affordability require more than just the availability of finance. In the case of the Philippines, this was primarily hindered by the lack of market competition among service providers, as well as policies that hinder the fast rollout of new infrastructures and investments. These are urgently being addressed and along with ensuring a business climate that is conducive to investments, innovation and competition.

3. Democratize access

The digital divide is real and has been amplified by the pandemic.  We have seen that while everyone had to bear the adverse consequences of COVID19, some were less able to protect themselves against its ill-health effects.  Some were at greater risk of infection because their work could not be done remotely.  Others had to stop working altogether, because their customer base is in high-interaction environments. Distance learning has become the primary mode of delivering instructions, but others could not attend classes. In fact, resilience depended on access and ability to use digital technology.

In the Philippines, government has been accelerating the implementation of the National Broadband Plan.[3] It aims to lay the backbone of connectivity network across the country through the deployment of fiber optic cables and wireless technologies, thereby, improving Internet speed and affordability.  This will also enable more public spaces with free Wi-Fi access.

Equally important are the hardware and software to complement the infrastructure.  And here is where we call on developed countries and tech companies to make apps, software and especially learning apps widely available and accessible.  These should cover a wide spectrum, from content-heavy subjects to technology and vocational education.  Currently, we pay a steep subscription fee for these learning apps, and therefore, access has been limited.

Finally, we also need to develop the necessary human capital that can build on digital technology.  And this brings me back to our plea to making the necessary hardware and software affordable and accessible.  Let us increase the pool of thinkers, scientists and, especially, innovators as we need to always come up with solutions to new problems.

Chair,

We firmly believe that we can work together so that digital technology can be a catalyst towards strengthening the ties within and among our nations, and finally bring us towards recovery, resiliency, and sustainability to realize not just a “new”, but a “better normal” for all.

Thank you.

[1] https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/10/05/harnessing-digital-technologies-can-help-philippines-overcome-impact-of-pandemic-hasten-recovery

[2] https://doh.gov.ph/node/20343

[3] https://dict.gov.ph/programs-projects/