PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. touted in an open forum at the World Economic Forum (WEF) the government’s effort to establish a more efficient cybersecurity system in the country in a bid to push for a digitalized bureaucracy.

Marcos said the country is welcoming any assistance amid the effort to boost its digitalization initiatives.

“The security has become a huge issue… that’s what we are trying to design now, a cybersecurity system for this sensitive information,” he said.

Marcos said there is a need for his administration to connect millions of Filipinos and improve its digital economy, admitting that the country has slow internet connectivity.

He said local governments had already stepped in to ensure internet connectivity infrastructures are in place to reach Filipinos in the regions.

“The connectivity in the Philippines is still pretty low. And it’s unfortunate because some of the studies we’ve made, the general consumer, if you want to call them that, talks to every facet of their lives through the internet, except for government,” the President said.

“So, local governments, and some agencies within the national government, would really take on the initiative and start their own systems so as to be able to communicate… So this has now got to be consolidated and put together…And that’s where we are right now: forming the databases for government, forming the databases that can be used by the national ID, [and] establishing it now,” he added.

During his first State of the Nation Address (Sona), Marcos highlighted the need for digitalization in the country to improve the daily lives of the people especially in transacting with the government, as well as for better governance. (SunStar Philippines)