When the government listens, we should too

I have been vocal in criticizing the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). When policies leaned toward shortcuts instead of sustainable solutions, I said so. When proposals drifted away from globally accepted best practices in information technology, I pushed back.

That role matters. In tech policy, silence is complicity.

Which is why what happened this week deserves equal attention.

In an exclusive interview with TechWatchPH, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda did something we rarely see from government officials under scrutiny. He engaged.

He responded to questions. Directly. On the record. No press release gloss. No vague talking points. Just answers.

As someone who has actively challenged the DICT on several fronts, I appreciate that. Accountability is a two-way street. If we demand transparency, we must also recognize it when it shows up.

More importantly, Secretary Aguda did not stop there.

He has committed to sitting down for a face-to-face interview with me. And not the usual sanitized exchange. This will be a no-holds-barred conversation. Straight questions. Even the uncomfortable ones. Especially the uncomfortable ones.

That matters.

Because the issues on the table are not small. Social media regulation. Child safety. Platform accountability. Regional coordination across ASEAN. These are complex, high-stakes topics that require more than reactive policy or headline-driven action. They require clarity, technical understanding, and yes, the willingness to be questioned in public.

And let’s be clear. There are still serious concerns that cannot be brushed aside.

Questions remain about the suspected use of troll accounts amplifying pro-DICT narratives online. There are also troubling reports about engagement with a PR agency that later turned out to be linked to questionable or even scam-like operations. These are not minor issues. They strike at the heart of credibility, trust, and governance.

Engagement like this signals something important. It suggests a shift, or at least an opening.

The real test, of course, is what comes next. Dialogue must translate into policy that is grounded in technological realities, not political optics. Protection must not come at the expense of access, and enforcement must target bad actors, not ordinary users.

But for now, this is a step in the right direction, and we thank Secretary Henry Aguda for this.

So let’s make the most of it.

We are opening this up to you. What do you want to ask the DICT Secretary? What concerns you about platform regulation? Where do you think the government is getting it wrong, or right?

Send us your questions.

This upcoming interview between TechWatchPH and Secretary Henry Aguda will be exactly what it should be. Direct. Unfiltered. And driven not just by journalists, but by the public we serve.

If the government is willing to listen, then we should be ready to speak.