DICT seeks P18-billion budget for 2027, plans eGovAI

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will request about P18 billion in funding under the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.

In a news release on Thursday, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said, “We're ready for the congressional deliberations, and we don't expect any trouble getting this budget executed next year.”

Under its budget request, the DICT is allocating P2.7-billion for its e-government (eGov) programs in next year's national spending plan.

Once approved, Aguda said the funding covers cloud hosting, cybersecurity and system integration for eGovPH, the one-stop platform where Filipinos already store digital IDs, apply for jobs, and request medical assistance.

The eGov app has logged more than 61 million downloads and processed over 900 million transactions, linking more than 1,300 government services in one place.

Congress' nod would also let DICT roll out eGovAI, an AI layer for automated document processing, while expanding its cloud backbone.

“We're building the infrastructure behind the administration's digital push,” Aguda said.

Moreover, the DICT is pushing for a National Digital Connectivity Plan—a Marcos-approved roadmap targeting universal access by 2028 and internet costs cut by as much as 80% through fiber, satellite, and submarine cable expansion.

“We're aiming to get every public school online ahead of the 2028 deadline. We're already past 99 percent coverage, and our engineers are working with telco partners and local communities to reach the last remote sites by satellite,” Aguda said.

“Free, reliable internet for public schools, barangay halls, and health centers in isolated communities remains non-negotiable for us,” he added.

The DICT chief said the agency is pursuing the National Digital Connectivity Plan alongside the Broadband ng Masa and Konektadong Pinoy laws, which open the telecommunications space to more competition. — BM, GMA News