The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is offering remote work tools, tips, and learning materials and resources to enrich digital literacy and build ICT knowledge for DICT’s employees, who are working from home.
The Work from Home website aims to be a resource to help government agencies continue with their work online for the duration of the public health emergency.
It features content that complements the continuing objective of the recently concluded National ICT Month 2020. It aimed to maximise ICT for the new normal through various digitalisation initiatives, strategies, and best practices.
According to a press release, President Rodrigo Duterte is steadfast in his directives to promote ICT-enabled work arrangements since the enactment of R.A. No. 11165 or the Telecommuting Act of 2018.
With the National Capital Region and select provinces remaining under general community quarantine (GCQ), and Cebu City under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), it is apparent that telecommuting remains a strategic alternative for both the public and private sector to consider and implement.
The launch of the online platform serves to support the President’s agenda of unhampered and efficient services to the people, the DICT Secretary, Gregorio B. Honasan II, said.
The department is encouraging its employees to visit the website and find the right resources to help guide them transition into a remote working lifestyle.
Among other content, the website features instructions on how government employees can avail of various telecommuting software for video conferencing, document processing, e-mail, and digital certificates.
It aims to help government employees manage the new virtual working environment in accordance with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular No. 10, s. 2020 that provides guidelines for implementing alternative work arrangements for government employees affected by the community quarantine.
The website is set to be updated regularly and was created at no additional cost to the government. Its creation complements the public health management measures of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) in its objectives to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month, DICT held a webinar on “How to Thrive in a Virtual Environment”, recognising the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic.
The webinar helped both management and employees cope with the impacts of the adjustments made to work arrangements in various organisations, using ICT.
As OpenGov reported, in the first session, leadership in the new normal was discussed. Participants were taught how to manage the workforce in a virtual environment and were provided with insights on how to prepare for future challenges by redefining work practices and environments.
The second session focused on discussions on the self-care of employees, particularly their physical, mental, and socio-emotional health.
The webinar was conducted by the DICT’s National Planning and Corporate Management Bureau (NPCMB) and was attended by employees from DICT and other government agencies, as well as the public.
The webinar was conducted to help the country’s workforce achieve greater effectiveness despite the disruptions in the workplace.