Philippine businesses could soon find it easier to sell, scale, and serve customers across Southeast Asia as ASEAN pushes to finalize the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, or DEFA, by 2026. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry described the pact as a potential game-changer that would lower compliance costs and expand market access for firms navigating cross-border e-commerce, data flows, and digital services.
In a policy paper, PCCI said harmonized regional rules on e-commerce, cybersecurity, digital payments, and emerging technologies would reduce regulatory friction and create a more stable, trusted environment for digital business. Clearer standards, it said, would help Filipino enterprises, from MSME online sellers to large IT-BPM exporters, operate with greater predictability across multiple ASEAN markets.
The chamber added that DEFA supports trusted cross-border data flows and cooperation on artificial intelligence and new technologies, areas seen as critical for higher-value services. For service exporters and tech-enabled firms, predictable digital trade rules mean they can scale regionally with less uncertainty, faster market entry, and stronger consumer confidence.
Beyond firms, PCCI pointed to potential gains for workers through provisions on digital skills development and talent mobility within the region. Still, it stressed that domestic readiness will shape the outcome.
Continued investment in broadband, logistics, digital skills training, and MSME support is needed to ensure local companies can fully seize new opportunities.
ASEAN’s digital economy is expected to expand rapidly this decade, and PCCI said DEFA positions the Philippines not just to participate, but to compete more strongly in regional digital value chains. If implemented well, the agreement could help Philippine firms move faster, reach wider markets, and play a bigger role in Southeast Asia’s digital future, for growth-driven local enterprises.
