MANILA - President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed an executive order (EO) directing government departments and agencies to utilize digital payments for government disbursements. EO 170, signed by Duterte on May 12, recognizes that the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the benefits of utilizing digital payment services across various sectors, as it enabled a fast, convenient, secure, and transparent mode of delivering government services and transacting business. "The adoption of digital payments for government disbursements will facilitate the expedient distribution of financial assistance to beneficiaries, thereby providing a catalyst for financial inclusion for the most vulnerable sectors of society, contributing to the attainment of the country's long-term vision under Ambisyon Natin 2040, and supporting our country's development trajectory towards an inclusive, resilient, and future-ready economy," the EO read. Under the EO, "all departments, agencies, and ins