It is with pleasure that we share with you free access to Stratbase ADR Institute’s Third Quarter 2020 Spark, entitled “Embracing Digital Government in the time of COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities in the Philippines”, written by Dr. Sherwin Ona, Non-Resident Fellow of Stratbase ADRi and Associate Professor of Political Science at De La Salle University.

This paper argues for the adoption of Digital Government as an imperative tool to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. There is a need for a Digital Government roadmap to bridge the gaps in public health, local governance and social programs. Our Asian neighbor states have applied digital solutions in the delivery of public services, this study discusses their successes through a comparative analysis.

Towards the end, the paper posits recommendations for the development of a policy environment that will embrace the adoption of a Digital Government.

It is my hope that this paper will enlighten our perspective on the ‘new normal’ for the Philippines; a rules-based, future-proof society empowered with a Digital Government.