Facebook reportedly earns US$17 per user in the Philippines, says DICT Secretary Aguda

• Photo from DICT

By TechWatch Ph Staff

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda revealed in a radio interview that Facebook (Meta) is earning approximately US$17 per user in the Philippines.

Speaking with broadcasters Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja on DZRH, Aguda emphasized the scale of Meta’s earnings from Filipino users, stating: “If you multiply that by around 100 million users, that’s a lot of money.”

Based on Aguda’s estimate, Facebook could be earning as much as US$1.7 billion annually from users in the Philippines alone.

The statement highlights growing concerns about how foreign tech giants profit from local markets without making proportional reinvestments, paying taxes, or being subject to regulation.

The Philippines, with over 90 million active Facebook users, remains one of the platform’s largest and most engaged markets in Southeast Asia. However, Meta operates in the country without a formal local office or registered corporate entity.

Secretary Aguda also disclosed that he has formally written a letter addressed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, urging the company to apply its community standards fairly and consistently in the Philippines, especially to combat fake news, online scams, and other forms of cybercrime.

“We are asking Meta to be more accountable,” Aguda said, stressing the need for more vigorous enforcement against online abuse and disinformation targeting Filipino users.

His remarks come amid mounting pressure on digital platforms to take a more proactive role in curbing online harms, particularly during a time when the government is pushing for comprehensive reforms in the country’s cybersecurity and digital governance landscape.