Manila, Feb. 18 -- In his second State of the Nation Address in 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored digitalizing government services as part of his ten-point agenda for economic renewal and long-term growth.

Envisioning a Digital Philippines, he said: "Digitalization is the call of today; not of the future-but of the present. It is here. It is needed, and it is needed today."

Under his leadership, the government puts a strong emphasis on advancing the country's information and communications technology (ICT). At the forefront is the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which has rolled out various programs and projects to build a more inclusive and resilient digital nation.

DICT Secretary Ivan...