DICT lauds Philippines rise in 2024 UN e-Participation Index

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) welcomed the country’s significant improvement in the 2024 United Nations e-Participation Index (EPI), citing the key role of eGovPH super app in driving accessibility, transparency and digital governance success.

The Philippines climbed 31 spots in the 2024 EPI to 49th place from its 80th rank in 2022.

The EPI evaluates how effectively countries use online tools to encourage citizen participation in government processes.

It is derived as a supplementary index to the United Nations E-Government Survey.

“This milestone underscores our dedication to making government services more accessible, transparent and participatory for every Filipino,” DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said in a statement.

The DICT attributed the country’s progress to its flagship eGovPH super app, a comprehensive platform that integrates national and local government services, ranging from business registration to tourism information.

Launched as part of the e-Governance program, the app also consolidates job creation, travel declarations and e-commerce services, enhancing convenience for users.

“The eGov super app aggregates existing systems using single sign-on and API integration, allowing seamless access to government services while maintaining compatibility with current agency systems,” DICT Undersecretary David Almirol said.

The eGovPH super app serves as an online one-stop shop offering various local government services such as applying for permits, certifications and clearances.

Partnerships with agencies like the Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Professional Regulation Commission have expanded the app’s features, including resume-building tools for job seekers, health benefits via eKonsulta as well as a unified travel declaration system for inbound and outbound travelers.

According to Almirol, the DICT plans to incorporate additional features like citizen reporting modules, job matching system, artificial intelligence bots and start-up empowerment through collaboration with more agencies.

“Our vision is to empower Filipinos with a citizen-centric solution that simplifies their interactions with the government,” Almirol said.