KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is reinventing the digital work landscape in Soccsksargen as it continues to provide literacy training to both unemployed and online Filipino workers in the region.

Shifting from a traditional work setup into a digital workspace, DICT, through its Digital Jobs PH (DGPH) program, is targeting to capacitate the unemployed and professionals to undergo free training to generate more digital jobs and employment.

“DICT is providing training for free,” Ibrahim B. Guiapar Jr., DICT regional director, recently told the Philippine Information Agency.

“May mga modules diyan na social media marketing, virtual assistance, graphic design, reposting and development, and other different modules. So per province within Region 12, binibigyan natin sila ng choices kung ano 'yung i-conduct module, and that is for free,” he further said.

[There are modules on social media marketing, virtual assistance, graphic design, reposting and development, and other different modules. So in every province within Region 12, we give them choices as to what module to conduct, and that is for free.]

In 2023, DICT conducted a total of six trainings for the Soccsksargen and BARMM regions and trained 154 individuals under the DJPH program.

“Isa sa purpose ng initiative natin is targeting the unemployed, professionals, and the unemployed na pwedeng magkaroon ng job through online. Pwede silang maging online Filipino worker,” Guiapar added.

[One of the purposes of our initiative is to target the unemployed, professionals, and the unemployed who can get a job online. They can become online Filipino workers.]

Meanwhile, Guilbert Simene, chief of DICT’s Technical Operations Division, explained that freelancing and other online job opportunities are a “lucrative prospect” to earn as much as the OFW without leaving the country.

“They can work here without going abroad; they will earn as much or more than the OFW,” said Simene.

Twenty-nine-year-old Daphne Booker Nalcot, a resident of New Ilo-ilo Tantangan, South Cotabato, who is still unemployed, thanked DICT for allowing her to participate in its recently held Adobe Premiere workshop.

“Maganda kasi opportunity ito na madagdagan ‘yung skills mo at pandagdag sa ilalagay mo sa resume at personal data sheet sa pag-apply ng trabaho. Sa iba pa na gusto mag-avail sumali kayo kasi libre naman pandagdag kaalaman kasi magagamit naman ito,” Nalcot pointed out, as she encouraged her peers to also avail of DICT trainings.

[This is a good opportunity to increase your skills as well as additional input to your resume and personal data sheet when applying for a job. Those who would like to participate in the training should do so since it will provide more knowledge that will be really beneficial, and it is completely free.]

DICT is confident that digital jobs in the provinces will surge to more than half a million by 2028, saying they are committed to helping address unemployment in the country.

The agency will support more Filipinos, especially newly graduated individuals, gain employment and new income opportunities via the freelancing industry, it said. (AMB/CTA – PIA Region 12)