Application, impacts, and challenges of the Internet of Things in the Philippine digital governance

Introduction: The integration of digital technologies into governance positions the Internet of Things (IoT) as a tool with the potential to transform the Philippine public sector by improving service delivery and efficiency. However, its actual implementation, structural barriers, and effects in the Philippines remain underexamined. This scoping review addresses this gap by analyzing documented applications, reported impacts (benefits, challenges, and risks), and future research directions for digital governance. Methodology: Following PRISMA-SCR, a search was conducted in Scopus, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and government sources. Results were limited to the 2015–2025 period, and nine eligible documents were selected. Results: The identified applications align with national needs, highlighting pilot projects such as a dengue early-warning system in public health and the promotion of precision agriculture to optimize resource use. Adoption faces barriers including inadequate internet infrastructure (with reported speeds far below what is required), low local investment in R&D, a shortage of IT professionals, and cybersecurity and data privacy risks. Discussion and Conclusions: Although IoT’s potential is high, achieving impact requires moving from isolated projects to systematic implementation and stronger institutional support. This calls for sustained fiscal commitment, the incorporation of standards (e.g., ISO 37122) into accountability frameworks, and strong human capital development through education–industry partnerships.