As the Novel Corona Virus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic quickened the advancement of digital shifts, rivalry strategy will stay in sight to ensure a comprehensive computerized economy, Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) Director Arsenio Balisacan said on Wednesday.

In an online Meeting of the Asian Development Bank, Balisacan said MICRO, and MEDIUM endeavors are confronted with difficulties of contending in the digitalized economy, as it is as yet overwhelmed by setting up enormous undertakings.

MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Businesses) and the poor endured inconsistent admittance to computerized stages due essentially to helpless availability. For example, penetration of high-speed broadband connection is low primarily because of unstable, slow, and expensive internet connection,” he said.

Balisacan added that 60% of family units in the Philippines don't have a connection to the internet. There is likewise a low infiltration to the rapid broadband association.
In terms of penetration to a high-speed connection, the Philippines is lagging among its Southeast Asian neighbors, he said.

The future of this market, the online platform, is that first-mover advantage is the key,” he added.

Since established enterprises still dominate the digital market, the innovators, or the new entrants, will face the challenge of acquiring a sufficient scale of the market.
That where competition policy comes in. Because we want to ensure that innovation is not precluded, the barriers to entry are eliminated so that first-mover advantage should not be (a) permanent feature of these markets, otherwise, inclusivity will not happen,” Balisacan said.

He said poor access to cheap and high-speed connections will only exacerbate existing inequalities amid the fast-growing digital economy.
There should be a proactive and whole-of-government approach in addressing these challenges to make digitalization a catalyst for inclusive recovery, he added. (Business)