Digital Divide

The Land Bank of the Philippines’ recent report of a 67% surge in digital banking transactions in 2024, amounting to an impressive P3.38 trillion, is undeniably a landmark achievement in the country’s digital transformation. 

It signals not only the growing trust in digital finance but also the potential of technology to streamline services, cut bureaucratic red tape, and provide convenience to millions of Filipinos.

LandBank President and CEO Lynette Ortiz hit the right note when she said, “Digital banking is not just about convenience — it’s about inclusion.” 

But as we celebrate the record-breaking growth, a more urgent question arises: Who is being left behind?

Digital financial services must not become just another innovation that disproportionately benefits the urban and tech-savvy. 

The rural poor, the unbanked, and those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas still face barriers to digital banking, from poor internet access and lack of digital literacy to the absence of basic financial infrastructure. 

These are the same sectors LandBank, as a government financial institution, was originally mandated to serve—farmers, fisherfolk, and grassroots communities.

While mobile banking apps, web platforms, and bulk disbursement systems are powerful tools for efficiency, they can only be transformative if paired with aggressive digital inclusion policies. 

This includes expanding rural connectivity, improving digital education, and creating on-ground support systems that help citizens open and use digital accounts confidently.

Furthermore, cybersecurity and data privacy education must be integral parts of this inclusion agenda. For first-time users, one security breach or scam could mean a lifetime of mistrust in digital finance.

It is laudable that LandBank is showing strong leadership in digital banking. But the challenge now lies in ensuring that this digital leap does not deepen financial inequality, but instead bridges the gap, empowering the underserved, and not just those already online.

If digital banking is truly about inclusion, then no Filipino, no matter how far or how poor, should be left behind.