SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is encouraging all stakeholders to embrace digitalization to make the Philippines one of the economically advanced nations in the future.
DICT Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said, “Digitalization is not only about technology, but also a mindset, an innovation, and it’s all about making things more efficient. Before, we used to do things in a very long period but now, we can condense our transactions and our processes into shorter periods. In that way, we do not waste more time, energy and resources.”
“It is the goal of the DICT to make the country a digitally transformed nation, where digitalization is going to resolve better processes, systems, and services for the citizens,” Sigue said during the ICT Forum at the City of San Fernando on March 13.
To achieve this, the DICT created countrywide and countryside programs with direct impact to stakeholders.
These programs include the RISE (Regional ICT Summits and Exhibitions), a conference that aims to bring digital literacy nationwide; Digital Careers Expo for the small provinces that aims to bring a wide ICT jobs fair; Digital Cities Plus that recognizes the digital arising cities and municipalities; D4D Summits or a Data for Development Programs; and Digital Inclusion Programs which include the DIWA (Digital Innovation for Women Advancement) and Generation Connect Philippines.
Further, Sigue reiterated that educational sectors play a big role in this transformation by making sure that their graduates are digitally competent in whatever profession they are.
“In order to make the Filipinos participate in the so-called digital economy, we have to make sure that they are future proof and they should be upskilled and rescaled,” said Sigue.
She added that the DICT is committed to ensuring that the digitalization in the country will result in e-governance or citizen centric governance. (JCR/AMB/KDM/PIA Region 1)
