"This is not just a discussion paper; it is a blueprint for execution. It successfully argues that for the digital economy to actually lift the "remaining 95%" of offline retail (MSME) in the Philippines, the government must stop celebrating the passage of laws and start obsessing over their deployment at the community level."

— Noel Africa, ICT Transformation Leader

"The Konektadong Pinoy Law marks a defining moment—a true convergence of technology, legislation, and entrepreneurial spirit for the Philippines. Drawing from my experience leading transformative digital initiatives in the Philippines, I see this not just as progress, but as a rare alignment of opportunity and readiness. With e-commerce now a US$28 billion force and connectivity reaching new heights, our collective challenge is to empower every Filipino and MSME with the tools, skills, and trust to thrive online. Real transformation will be measured not only by innovation, but by community impact and inclusive growth.

Now is the time to turn policy into daily practice, ensuring that this convergence delivers a digital future where no one is left behind—and where Filipino ingenuity shines on the global stage."

— Azhar Shaikh - SVP, Transformation, QBE Insurance

"True e-commerce transformation in the Philippines will not come from technology alone, but from our ability as leaders to forge meaningful connections between infrastructure, policy, and trust. We must harness digital platforms not simply for scale, but for real inclusion—empowering every MSME and Filipino entrepreneur to participate securely and confidently in the new economy.

The gap between rapid digital adoption and low e-commerce penetration in the Philippines highlights a critical ‘last-mile’ challenge: True transformation will depend not just on platform growth, but on tackling operational realities—integrating payment systems, logistics, and digital trust at the grassroot level. As our regional peers have shown, bridging this gap is where policy, private sector innovation, and community engagement must converge to unlock inclusive digital prosperity."

- Azhar Shaikh - SVP, Transformation, QBE Insurance

"E-commerce platforms thrive on trust, and a huge part of that trust is earned through security. Cybersecurity should be built into every stage of the development process and should never be treated as a last-minute patch. When security is part of the design, businesses protect their customers, their reputation, and their future."

— Cjay Billones, COO, Secuna

“The Konektadong Pinoy initiative reflects a direction that deeply resonates with the transformation blueprint I have long advocated: integrating the discipline of 4IR process evolution, the responsibility of ethical AI, and the clarity of purpose-driven digitalization. By expanding digital access and strengthening the country’s foundational infrastructure, Konektadong Pinoy moves beyond technology deployment—it enables a more inclusive, more empowered participation in the digital economy. Its vision aligns well with the idea that transformation must begin with systems that work, technologies that elevate human capability, and policies that ensure no Filipino is left behind. In many ways, it is a practical expression of how national digital strategies can serve both progress and people.

When every Filipino is digitally connected, AI can serve — and purpose can empower.”

- Engr. Gerald G. Divinagracia, MBPM (Former Undersecretary of ARTA)

"From a financial services viewpoint (both Bank and Non-Bank), there is a clear regulatory expectation in the Philippines, led by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), that all digital financial services platforms, including those facilitating e-commerce, must establish cybersecurity as a first principle:

• The BSP's evolving IT risk and cybersecurity guidelines (Circular No. 808, and Circular No. 982) explicitly require BSP-supervised institutions to implement strong, real-time fraud management, end-to-end controls, and rapid incident response, even mandating features like multi-factor authentication and behavioral analytics as baseline, not optional add-ons.

• Failure to prioritize security can result in financial liability for consumer loss (based on existing consumer protection regulations) and regulatory penalties.

• Strong authentication, 24/7 fraud detection, and proactive cyber posture are no longer differentiators, they are minimum legal and reputational requirements for services to maintain digital consumer trust and to be allowed to operate.

A key point regarding the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), or RA 12010, is that it adds a crucial legal requirement for both e-commerce platforms and financial service providers to proactively prevent, detect, and report online fraud and account-related scams.

AFASA supports the cyber security-by-design stance by legally obligating platforms and banks/non-banks to integrate robust fraud controls, real-time monitoring, and mandatory reporting mechanisms directly into their systems, rather than relying solely on user vigilance or reactive measures."

— Tops Laguatan, ITRMS Head, Bank of Makati Inc.