BetterGov.ph has teased the upcoming eGovHackathon 2026, signaling a major collaboration between government and the local tech community to test and improve public digital systems, particularly the eGovPH Super App.

Set for June 19–20, the hackathon is being organized alongside the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and comes as part of a broader push to open government platforms to independent scrutiny. The announcement, described as “a decisive step forward for public service,” follows recent calls for greater transparency and real-world testing of the country’s digital infrastructure.

The initiative traces back to a public challenge issued by Art Samaniego Jr., who urged the government to allow cybersecurity experts and system architects to stress-test eGovPH beyond controlled demonstrations. The call gained traction after a multi-day outage from April 13 to 18 disrupted access to key services, highlighting the platform’s growing role in daily transactions.

DICT Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. responded by accepting the challenge and inviting the tech community to participate in an open testing environment. The eGovHackathon is now positioned as the first concrete step toward fulfilling that commitment.

Organizers say the event will bring together developers, cybersecurity professionals, and system architects to conduct hands-on testing, identify vulnerabilities, and propose improvements. Key focus areas include system reliability, scalability, cybersecurity, and user experience—critical components as eGovPH continues to expand its reach across government services.

Beyond a one-time event, both government and industry participants have signaled interest in turning the initiative into a sustained collaboration model. Discussions around safe-harbor protections, responsible disclosure frameworks, and potential bug bounty programs have emerged as part of the broader conversation on strengthening Philippine govtech.

As reliance on centralized digital platforms grows, the hackathon reflects a shift toward more open and participatory approaches in building public digital infrastructure—where external expertise plays a role in shaping systems used by millions.

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