Creation of Dept. of Info-Comm Tech pushed

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – More than 35 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Councils in the Philippines have recently urged Congress to pass a proposed bill creating a cabinet-level Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation For Information and Communications Technology (BNeFIT) chair Jocelle Batapa Sigue, was among the resource persons in the joint congressional hearing on the proposed measure, headed by Senator Edgardo Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, and Rep. Sigfrido Tinga, chair of the House Committee on ICT.

Sigue represented the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP), which supported the DICT bill now pending in Congress.

In a written statement submitted to Angara, the NICP leaders from various cities and provinces in the country said they "strongly believe the Philippines is in need of a stronger government body, duly established through legislation, to sustain our competitive edge in ICT development as well as in ensuring a truly transparent and responsive government.”

They said that, in an era of globalization, “ICT is an important vehicle enabling the private sector to be more competitive….ICT policies, regulations and roadmaps should be regularly updated and harmonized with the latest technological and sector developments, to ensure that the Philippines can continue to compete globally.”

Such status can “best be achieved with the creation of a DICT with cabinet level leadership, and supported by capable staff," they said.

Sigue conveyed the stand of all ICT councils nationwide, saying that it "is high time for the country to take an assertive stance in addressing major issues such as human resources, intellectual property rights, security, data protection and quality management and standards.”

The NICP said the DICT “would increase public awareness on the benefits of ICT that would in turn bridge the digital divide, increase mobile penetration rates, promote quality ICT education, make accessible broadband connectivity in underserved areas, empowers marginalized segments of our population and create homegrown web content,” for a better quality of life for the Filipinos. (FREEMAN)