An announcement
from the Department
of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) highlighted the
2018 National ICT Month this June with the theme “Thrive Through Disruption:
Inclusivity, Empowerment, Sustainability.” A line up of events addressing the 3
key messages in the theme is available for the people to learn from and
participate in.
DICT is putting the spotlight on the
government’s efforts in its vision of a thriving nation in spearheading the
2018 National ICT Month celebration this June.
This year celebrates the 10th
National ICT Month since the declaration of Proclamation No. 1528, series of
2008, which declares the month of June as National Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) Month in the Philippines.
The DICT focuses on three key messages
through this year’s theme, “Thrive Through Disruption: Inclusivity,
Empowerment, Sustainability.”
There is a need to bridge the digital
divide, which the Department recognises. To address issues on inclusivity, the
DICT has intensified its efforts widening the reach of ICT, the marginalised
sectors included.
The Department is targeting women, senior
citizens, differently-abled people, and those who are with less access and
knowledge on ICT to participate in the various Tech4Ed conferences and women’s
ICT trainings lined up across the month.
Meanwhile, more and more people are being
served all over the country as developments on the Free Internet Access in
Public Places Program or Pipol Konek and the National Government Portal, are
continuously progressing year-round.
Empowerment is being promoted by the DICT through
upskilling and reskilling of the Filipino workforce. At least nine Rural Impact
Sourcing technical trainings (RISTT) are scheduled to be held in various parts
of the country.
Memorandum Circular No. 001-2018 was issued
by the DICT to urge other organisations’ participation. The Department is
calling on government agencies to support the celebration, as well as to reinforce
the advocacy of streamlining programs and projects for full government
interoperability and sustainability.
The National ICT (NICT) Summit 2018,
happening in Davao on 21 June 2018, will be the highlight of this month-long
celebration. Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is expected to attend and
deliver his keynote speech to industry leaders.
Moreover, representatives of DICT are
scheduled to talk about Inclusivity in ICT and Digital Consumer Protection. The
Department is serious about its crucial mandate of ensuring and protecting the
rights and welfare of consumers and business users in matters relating to ICT.
The NICT Summit will also provide an avenue
for discussion of other government initiatives such as e-Government, National
ID, Cybersecurity, and Data Privacy.
In addition to the theme-related
activities, the DICT is about to embark on a new milestone with the scheduled
ceremonial signing of the monumental Tripartite Agreement with the National Grid Corporation of
the Philippines (NGCP) and National Transmission Corporation
(TransCo) at the Philippine International Convention Centre (PICC) on 8 June
2018.
The signing will pave the way for the government
to utilise NGCP’s spare optical fibre at no cost, which will help address the
growing need for faster and more affordable internet connectivity.
NGCP is a privately owned corporation in
charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country's state-owned
power grid, an interconnected system that transmits gigawatts of power at
thousands of volts from where it is made to where it is needed.
TransCo is a government agency created
under Republic Act No. 9136, known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act
(EPIRA) of 2001. TransCo operated and managed the power transmission system
that links power plants to the electric distribution utilities nationwide.
The DICT has released a full calendar
of events for the 10th National ICT Month.
A recent
announcement from the DICT expressed how Camarines Sur is now the Philippine
province with the highest number of towns connected to the internet because of
Pipol Konek.
An earlier
announcement from the DICT promoted ICT-enabled jobs as a high value economic
activity in rural communities through the Rural Impact Sourcing Technical
Training (RISTT) program.
