The Women and ICT Development Index (WIDI) Survey is a collaborative activity between the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT). The WIDI Survey is a nationally representative household survey that focuses on the skills and potential of women and girls in the field of ICT. The survey aimed to gather baseline data among women and girls aged 15 years or over in terms of access, use, and skills in ICT for evidence-based crafting of appropriate policies and programs to help women in the productive use of ICT.

Smartphone is present in five out of six households

Results of the WIDI survey showed that smartphone (84.9%) was the most common ICT device present in households which can be used by any member in 2022. This was followed by basic cellphone (33.4%) and portable computer (20.0%). (Figure 1 and Table 1)

Moreover, in both urban and rural areas, smartphone was the most common ICT device present in the household. (Figure 2 and Table 1)

Over five out of six employed women use smartphones

In terms of usage, smartphone was the most commonly used ICT device among women with three in every four women were using the device. This was followed by basic cellphone (16.0%) and portable computer (14.8%). On the contrary, the least used ICT device is the gaming console with less than one percent of women were using the device.

By employment status, employed women had a higher percentage of ICT use compared to those not employed. The use of desktop computer was higher by 13.9 percentage points among employed women. Similarly, the use of portable computer and smartphone was higher by 12.0 percentage points and 11.9 percentage points, respectively, among employed women. (Figure 3 and Table 2)

BARMM had the least percentage of women using smartphones and portable computers

In each region except BARMM, majority of women used smartphone with National Capital Region (NCR) registering the highest percentage of 89.4 percent. It was closely followed by CALABARZON at 86.9 percent and Central Luzon at 81.4 percent. BARMM had the lowest percentage of smartphone users at 49.1 percent.

However, for basic cellphone, BARMM had the highest percentage of women who use this ICT device with 38.9 percent. This was followed by Caraga (26.6%) and Northern Mindanao (26.0%).

The portable computer was highest in CAR with 24.7 percent of women using this ICT device. This was followed by NCR (20.0%) and CALABARZON (19.2%). BARMM had the least percentage, with 1.4 percent of women using a portable computer. (Figure 4 and Table 2)

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General