The Philippines remains behind its neighbors in establishing a comprehensive data governance framework, exposing gaps that weaken transparency, accountability, and innovation, according to the D4DAsia Synthesis Report released on Friday, Sept. 12.
Prepared by LIRNEasia with contributions from Disini Law and the Digital Freedom Network, the study reviewed data governance laws and practices in seven countries: India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines.
It found that while many governments in the region are moving toward unified frameworks to maximize the use of data in development, the Philippines still relies on fragmented and outdated policies.
The report noted that although the Constitution guarantees the right to information, Filipinos face persistent barriers in accessing public data online.
The absence of a comprehensive Freedom of Information (FOI) law leaves access requests subject to agency discretion, weakening transparency and enabling opportunities for corruption.
Government platforms also remain siloed. The Open Data Portal, which was designed to promote open standards for public information, is not fully integrated with other platforms such as the Philippine Statistics Authority’s OpenStat database.
In contrast, countries like India and Indonesia have advanced open data initiatives that allow citizens, businesses, and researchers to more effectively access and use government datasets.
The report also found that the Philippine government has no overarching policy that prioritizes open-source software and open standards. There are no specific technical rules on interoperability, data integration, or e-services — only broad principles.
Unlike Sri Lanka, which has begun to define standards for system interconnectivity, the Philippines lacks a roadmap to ensure seamless use and exchange of public data.
The study further noted gaps in regulating emerging technologies. No law currently governs data localization, while copyright protections still only apply to works created by humans, leaving AI-generated content in a gray area.
Prof. Jesus M. Disini Jr. of the UP College of Law stressed that the Philippines must act quickly to close these gaps.
“Our report presents gaps in our country’s strategy on data governance. In highlighting them, we hope to encourage policy-makers and data managers to influence our political leaders to make the necessary legislation to plug these holes soonest,” he said.
Atty. Oliver Xavier Reyes, also of UP Law, said policymakers must treat data as a national resource.
“Data is an asset and robust data governance is a key advantage in policy-making, especially in the public sector where decisions could impact people’s lives and livelihoods,” he said.
“As much as possible, we want data to be free-flowing and widely shared because data is knowledge. The more informed our citizens and government agencies are, the better decisions we can make for society.”
The report highlighted examples from neighboring countries that the Philippines could learn from. In India, for instance, agencies are required to provide specific reasons when rejecting FOI requests, making government actions more accountable. Thailand has introduced clearer standards for digital governance, while Sri Lanka is piloting frameworks for interoperable government databases.
By comparison, the Philippines has yet to align its policies with the realities of digital governance. The lack of a comprehensive FOI law, outdated copyright provisions, and fragmented government databases reflect a piecemeal approach that risks slowing down innovation and inclusive development.
Experts warned that unless reforms are enacted, the Philippines faces serious risks. Weak transparency frameworks can enable corruption by limiting public scrutiny of government data.
Poor interoperability between databases fuels inefficiency in service delivery, delaying programs and wasting resources. Exclusion is also a concern, as vulnerable groups may be left out of digital services if systems remain fragmented and inaccessible.
“Data has immense potential to drive development and improve governance, but without the right laws and systems, we risk turning it into a source of inequality and inefficiency instead of progress,” Reyes warned.
The report called on lawmakers to pass legislation that addresses these gaps, including a long-delayed FOI law, rules on interoperability and data sharing, and updated provisions for AI and emerging technologies.
Without these reforms, the Philippines risks falling further behind its neighbors in harnessing data for inclusive governance and economic growth, it said.
