To address these challenges, Chua said both the government and the private sector needed to upgrade digital infrastructure, promote digital payments, improve the logistics system and foster a conducive business environment so Filipinos could catch up.
Chua welcomed the incoming entry of the third telco player and even more competitors—“definitely, we have to move away from a duopoly market structure” partly by opening up the sector to foreigners. “If we have more players in the country, that’s likely the ingredients to have a better infrastructure, lower costs and better internet connectivity. There’s really a push for more private sector participation.
Chua said digital taxation would level the playing field as local firms were already paying VAT, while foreign suppliers were not.