In 2012, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council advocated that all the rights a person has offline must also be protected online. The Internet is now seen as an enabler of other rights such as access to information, freedom of expression, education, and economic participation.
Connectivity now plays a crucial role as the infrastructure that other rights now run on. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized that faster and expanded internet connectivity is a key driver of national development, and online access is a necessity.
How Connected is the Philippines?
The Philippines has 98 million Filipinos who are using the internet with over 83% online penetration. It has 20 million more mobile connections than its total population. Mobile downloads have been increasing year-on-year but accessibility remains to be an issue.
Big parts of the country remain underserved, creating a real digital divide which pushes legislation for the National Broadband Program and Free WiFi initiative forward.
Reasons Why Connectivity Helps Filipinos
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Economic Participation and Livelihood
In 2025, Filipinos spent around $14 billion dollars online shopping for consumer goods. Connectivity is the infrastructure that has pushed a double digit growth. The Philippines is also a robust force in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) whose critical operation is largely online.
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Staying Connected Globally
Millions of Filipinos now work overseas which is why staying connected actually helps keep families together. The Internet functions not just as an infrastructure for livelihood or entertainment but also carries social value as well.
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Access to information, education & essential services
Filipinos are also now more keen to go online for information discovery, self-education, and news. Government agencies also transitioned several agency services online where good internet connection is now a prerequisite.
While internet connection is not formally implemented as a human right, many Filipinos already see connectivity as that to help them with work, learning, access to essential services, and staying connected outside the country.
Equal participation in Philippine society is only made possible by closing the digital divide as a necessity rather than just as an option.
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