Philippines Boosts GovNet Rollout for Faster, Transparent Government Services

House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy is backing the rollout of GovNet, stating that such initiatives will enable the government to deliver faster, more transparent, and more accessible services. Isabela Board Member Manuel Faustino “King” Dy announced this on Speaker Dy’s behalf on Tuesday during the launch of GovNet Ilagan in Ilagan, Isabela, by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Under the GovNet Ilagan project, more than 50 government offices across Isabela will benefit from faster, more secure, and more reliable internet connectivity, enhancing the delivery of services to local governments, schools, and other public institutions. Dy congratulated the DICT, the provincial government of Isabela, the city government of Ilagan, and all stakeholders behind the successful implementation of the project. Addressing national and local officials, the House speaker described the GovNet initiative as a pathway to better governance that reflects the Marcos administration’s efforts to modernize both the country’s physical and digital infrastructure. In his message, Speaker Dy said in Filipino: “The launching of GovNet Ilagan is not just about having access to the internet or fiber optic cables. This will also pave the way for good governance — because when our agencies are connected, coordination will be faster, services will be more effective, and the lives of our countrymen will be easier. This is the true aim of digital transformation.” “Clearly, the wish of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is not just to build roads and bridges. We are also laying down digital infrastructure to deliver services that will be useful and give a more comfortable life for each Filipino,” he added. He pointed out that while the Build Better More program connects communities through physical infrastructure, initiatives such as the National Broadband Program, the eGovPH App, and GovNet connect citizens directly to government services through technology. “This is one of the most valuable legacies of this administration — to build a foundation for a true Digital Pilipinas. We are laying the groundwork for a digitally empowered nation,” he said. The speaker also highlighted the role of the House of Representatives in supporting the country’s digital transformation through landmark legislation, including the approval of the eBayad Bill, one of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority measures. The eBayad Bill, he explained, seeks to institutionalize digital payments across government, making transactions faster while reducing red tape and improving transparency. “Our goal is to help build the foundations of a truly modern government — one where Bagong Pilipinas evolves into a Digital Pilipinas, where government services are faster, more transparent, and more accessible to every Filipino,” stressed Dy. He added that the House had approved the Right to Information Act to strengthen government transparency, as well as the Child Online Safety and Protection Act to better protect Filipino children from online exploitation, cyberbullying, and other digital threats. “Digital transformation brings not only innovation. It’s also a valuable instrument for accountability, responsibility, and public trust,” he concluded.