Opportunity, risk, and the cost of being online

We are a digitally-immersed people.

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Everywhere, people are glued to their gadgets, waiting for a message, reading emails, scrolling social media. We even eat with our phones in front of us, meet friends with that at our elbows, and work with one hand on our mobile phone. For many of us, the internet is not a luxury—it is where work, commerce, information, and community now live.In a barangay in Batangas, a home-based seller relies on Facebook Live to move her daily inventory. In Cebu, a college student attends online classes using prepaid data because home broadband is unreliable. In Mindanao, a small LGU posts advisories on social media because it’s the fastest way to reach residents during floods. These everyday scenarios show how deeply digital tools have woven themselves into Filipino life.

President Marcos Jr. recently approved the National Digital Connectivity Plan (NDCP) which aims to expand fast, affordable, and secure internet access across the country—especially in far-flung and underserved areas. Its goals include improving broadband infrastructure, lowering internet costs, and ensuring connectivity in public schools, barangay halls, and health centers.