IN an insightful presentation by Undersecretary Jean Pacheco of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) during a virtual session on e-commerce and digital economy, a comprehensive picture of the key strategic priorities, challenges and opportunities that lie ahead was discussed as the country accelerates its journey toward a more robust digital economy.

Undersecretary Pacheco's presentation drew a clear line from the earlier DTI E-Commerce Roadmaps, emphasizing how the new 2028 Roadmap builds on past achievements and lessons learned. The 2016–2020 E-Commerce Roadmap laid the groundwork by focusing on building the necessary digital infrastructure and fostering a culture of e-commerce among businesses and consumers. The results were promising as the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, with significant growth in the number of online enterprises and a marked increase in digital transactions.