This report is part of the “Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia” (D4DAsia) initiative, which critically examines how data governance is evolving across the region, including both formal frameworks and informal norms. In recent decades, policies have emerged in response to growing data use, such as updates to intellectual property laws aligned with international practices and the enactment of personal data protection legislation addressing cross-border data processing. Despite recent developments, the Philippines still lacks a unified data governance framework. The Philippines’ experience highlights the challenges of governing data without a unified framework, emphasizing the tension between fragmented legal instruments and the growing demand for openness, protection, and democratic accountability. The draft Philippines Country Report can be found below.