The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is asking Congress for an P18-billion budget for 2027 to boost the country’s digital services and infrastructure.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the agency is fully prepared to defend its proposed funding during congressional deliberations. “We’re ready for the congressional deliberations, and we don’t expect any trouble getting this budget executed next year,” Aguda stated.
If approved, the allocation will cover cloud hosting, cybersecurity and system integration for the eGovPH super app, the government’s one-stop platform that already stores digital IDs, processes job applications and handles requests for medical assistance. The app has recorded over 61 million downloads and completed more than 900 million transactions, connecting over 1,300 government services in a single system.
Approval will also allow the DICT to launch eGovAI, an automated tool for processing documents, and expand the government’s cloud network. “We’re building the infrastructure behind the administration’s digital push,” Aguda said. From the total proposed budget, P2.7 billion will go directly to e-government programs next year.
The budget request comes as the DICT moves forward with the National Digital Connectivity Plan, a roadmap approved by President Marcos that aims to provide universal internet access by 2028 and reduce internet costs by up to 80 percent through expanded fiber, satellite and submarine cable networks. Aguda noted that internet coverage for public schools has already passed 99 percent, and engineers are working with telecom firms and local communities to connect the remaining remote sites via satellite before the 2028 target. “Free, reliable internet for public schools, barangay halls, and health centers in isolated communities remains non-negotiable for us,” he added.
These efforts are carried out under the Broadband ng Masa and Konektadong Pinoy laws, which encourage greater competition in the telecommunications sector. Aguda also highlighted the proposed Pax Silica hub in Clark as part of the national digital drive, a project expected to create up to 500,000 jobs. “An initiative that could deliver jobs at that scale, without the environmental baggage of old industries, is one we can’t afford to pass up,” he said.
