Citing its objective to “effectively implement” Philippines’ digital transformation, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) proposed a P46.6 billion budget for 2021.

In its proposal, the DICT allotted P22.1 billion, the biggest chunk of its proposed budget, for its Digital Connectivity and Access programs, particularly the National Broadband Program (NBP), the Free WiFi for All in Public Places and State Universities and Colleges Program, and the Government Emergency Communications System.

“Digital connectivity and access is the foundation of digital transformation. It is only with secure and reliable internet connectivity for every Filipino can we implement programs and initiatives towards digitalization in various sectors of our society,” Honasan said in a media advisory.

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The breakdown of the proposed budget includes P11.7 billion for DICT’s Digital Government initiatives, P10.2 billion for Digital Workforce and Digital Education, P55 million for Digital Cities and Provinces, P1.05 billion for Cybersecurity, and P1.3 billion for DICT’s Internal DICT Programs.

Honasan added that the proposed budget is in line with the goals of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Inter-Agency Task Force-Technical Working Group on Anticipatory and Forward Planning (IATF-TWG-AFP) to rebuild the economy and adapt to the “new normal” of economic activity.

“We hope that both houses of Congress will approve our proposed budget for 2021. Now more than ever, the call for digital transformation has never been more urgent. We need all the resources to fast track the country’s digital transformation for us to better adapt to the new normal brought by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Honasan said.