Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 27) — The financial technology (fintech) arm of the Aboitiz Group is pitching in its technologies to speed up the digital transformation of the Philippines, freeing up local government units from expensive deployment of digital solutions.
While the pandemic has ramped up the country’s digital shift, Aboitiz’s UBX said digital gaps remain in remote areas, including municipalities with low income.
In an attempt to close these gaps, UBX is leading the private sector in boosting the government’s digital shift through Digital Transformation ng Pilipinas (DigiPinas), a multi-sectoral initiative launched Thursday.
It partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), including other technology players, local chief executives, policy makers, and members of the academe.
“Digitalizing government services will help reduce inequalities and inequities, as the Internet, as they say, is the greatest equalizer. But we are still far from the new digital world that we seek,” DigiPinas Spokesperson Mikan Leachon said.
“DigiPinas takes a multi-stakeholder approach to address barriers and challenges and help hasten development not only in major cities and provinces, but in rural towns and far-flung areas,” Leachon added.
UBX said it has existing technologies ready for deployment for local governments wanting to do the shift. It also urged other providers to join DigiPinas, saying the government cannot do it alone.
“Digital transformation is one of the leading thrusts of President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.] and we have a long way to go to achieve a digital Philippines. We need the partnership from the private sector, working simultaneously with synergy to achieve that goal,” DICT Director Jose Reyes said.
Marcos in his first State of the Nation Address said his administration would pursue digitalization in government offices.
