The European Union has awarded the Philippines a €22.6-million (around ₱1.4-billion) Digital Economy Package to accelerate the country’s digital transformation, strengthen cybersecurity, and expand the use of artificial intelligence in government services.
The grant, formalized through a new EU-Philippines cooperation agreement, will support technology adoption across key sectors including 5G, digital connectivity, and AI-driven earth observation systems.
The initiative forms part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to promote smart, secure, and sustainable digital, energy, and transport infrastructure in partner countries.
EU ambassador Massimo Santoro said the grant underscores Europe’s commitment to helping the Philippines build an inclusive and future-ready digital ecosystem.
“This partnership marks a significant step forward in our commitment to support digital technology for societal advancement,” he said.
Department of Finance secretary Frederick D. Go welcomed the support, noting that one of the package’s core projects will enhance access to Copernicus, the EU’s earth observation system.
“This will provide the Philippines with secure and reliable digital connectivity infrastructure by enabling high-speed, real-time access to Copernicus data,” Go said.
“It will help the government better prepare for natural disasters, respond faster in times of crisis, and provide immediate relief to Filipino families.”
A major component of the package is the expansion of the EU–Copernicus Philippines program, which uses satellite data to guide national policies on disaster risk reduction, environmental monitoring, agricultural productivity, and infrastructure mapping.
Integrating AI into this system is expected to create new analytic tools for issues like food security and land-use planning.
The partnership also aims to strengthen academic and research collaboration between EU and Philippine universities, particularly in science, technology, and innovation.
To support the country’s digital backbone, the grant will fund policy development for 5G technology, upgrades in national and international connectivity, and the deployment of applications requiring ultrafast data access.
Cybersecurity will be a priority, with efforts focused on protecting critical infrastructure and public services from emerging digital threats.
The Digital Economy Package includes €20 million from the EU, €2 million from Finland, and €600,000 from France.
Implementation will be led by the Philippine Space Agency, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Office of Civil Defense in coordination with European partners.
