Philippines Digital Economy Report 2020 : A Better Normal Under COVID-19 - Digitalizing the Philippine Economy Now
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic underscores the importance of digitalization for economic and social resilience. COVID-19 is restricting mobility and economic activity around the world, and the Philippines is no exception. As mobility restrict...
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| Format: | Report |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2020
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/796871601650398190/Philippines-Digital-Economy-Report-2020-A-Better-Normal-Under-COVID-19-Digitalizing-the-Philippine-Economy-Now http://hdl.handle.net/10986/34606 |
| Summary: | The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
underscores the importance of digitalization for economic
and social resilience. COVID-19 is restricting mobility and
economic activity around the world, and the Philippines is
no exception. As mobility restrictions and social distancing
measures limit face-to-face interactions and activities, the
availability of affordable digital technologies has emerged
as a key determinant of resilience. Indeed, digital
technologies allow businesses, the government and schools to
pursue operations online rather than completely shutting
down. E-commerce and digital payments have permitted
business transactions to continue and goods to be delivered;
online communication platforms have facilitated home-based
work, virtual meetings, and remote classes; and government
agencies in many countries have used online processes to
quickly deliver social assistance to vulnerable households.
Unfortunately, not all countries have been able to leverage
digital technologies to their full extent, because of poor
access to high quality internet and long-held analog
practices. In the Philippines, COVID-19 has accelerated the
adoption and use of digital technologies. However,
digitalization is largely constrained by the country’s low
high-speed broadband penetration, which lags behind
neighboring middle-income countries. The digital divide in
the Philippines is large with nearly 60 percent of
households not having access to internet, and unable to reap
the benefits of digitalization. As a result, face-to-face
interactions and analog practices largely dominate in the
Philippines, making social distancing economically costly.
For example, cash and cheques remain the dominant modes of
payment while applying for permits and licenses typically
requires exchange of documents in person. Gatherings of
people waiting in lines are typical fixture for Filipinos to
secure goods and services. This report provides a thorough
analysis of the obstacles to digitalization and identifies
key reforms and policy measures that could help the
Philippines harness the potential of the digital economy. It
uses the CHIP (Connect, Harness, Innovate, Protect)
conceptual framework to analyze the requirements to
accelerate digital transformation. The framework focuses on
four key drivers of digitalization: (i) Connect, which
refers to a set measures to build the digital foundation and
enablers such as digital infrastructure for participation in
the digital economy; (ii) Harness, which points to needed
investments in analog complements such as skills,
regulations, and institutions to leverage the old economy;
(iii) Innovate, which refers to expanding the new economy
services, digital payments, digital entrepreneurship and
e-government; and (iv) Protect, which focuses on mitigating
the risks in the digital economy. The need to act on the
digital economy is urgent. Reforms delivered now will help
the government cushion the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak,
support the recovery in the medium term, and make the
economy more inclusive, competitive, and resilient to
similar shocks in the long term. |
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