Search
Close this search box.

We are creating some awesome events for you. Kindly bear with us.

Philippine ICT Department proposes digital transformation budget

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is seeking approval for its proposed budget to implement programs to accelerate digital transformation during the pandemic.

The budget totals PH ₱46.6 billion (US $941 million) for fiscal year (FY) 2021, according to the DICT Secretary, Gregorio B. Honasan II.

A press release quoted the Secretary saying that the proposed budget is in line with the goals of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Inter-Agency Task Force-Technical Working Group on Anticipatory and Forward Planning (IATF-TWG-AFP) to rebuild the economy and adapt to the ‘new normal’ of economic activity.

In its proposal, DICT allotted PH ₱22.1 billion (US $447 million), the biggest part of its proposed budget, for its digital connectivity and access programs, particularly, the National Broadband Program (NBP), the Free WiFi for All project (for public places, state universities, and college programs), and the Government Emergency Communications System.

Digital connectivity and access is the foundation of digital transformation. With secure and reliable internet connectivity for every Filipino, the department plans to implement programs and initiatives towards the digitalisation of various economic sectors, the Secretary explained.

The press release outlined the details of the budget:

  • DICT’s Digital Government initiatives were allotted PH ₱11.7 billion (US $236 million).
  • Digital Workforce and Digital Education were allotted PH ₱10.2 billion (US $206 million).
  • Digital Cities and Provinces were allotted PH₱ 55 million (US $1.1 million).
  • Cybersecurity was allotted PH ₱1.05 billion (US $21 million).
  • DICT’s internal programs were allotted PH ₱1.3 billion (US $26 million).

The proposed budget for FY 2021 is significantly much higher than its current budget for FY 2020, which amounts only to around PH ₱6 billion (US $121 million).

The Secretary added that the department hopes that both houses of Congress will approve the proposed budget for 2021, as now more than ever, the call for digital transformation is urgent.

He said that the country must use all its resources to fast track digital change to better adapt to the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In line with this, DICT Mindanao Cluster 1 (MC1) recently launched 20 WiFi sites in strategic areas of Isabela and Lamitan in Basilan. The department is promoting the use of ICT to enhance key public services like education, public health and safety, revenue generation, and socio-civic purposes for the goal of inclusive national growth.

As OpenGov reported, complementing the Free WiFi for All project, DICT also launched the Wireless Broadband Link from the DICT Zamboanga City Office to Isabela and Lamitan.

It built a tower in each city with IP radios to receive the bandwidth coming from Zamboanga.

The advent of cellphones and internet service providers has helped recuperate from limited access to communications services. However, the status of the internet in the province is weak, depriving much of the municipalities of these services.

The need for better internet connection is seen as necessary for the province to cope with the fast-paced exchanges of information related to COVID-19, and the online teaching approach of the Department of Education. The Zamboanga–Basilan Broadband Link of the DICT and the free WiFi is a welcome relief.

PARTNER

Qlik’s vision is a data-literate world, where everyone can use data and analytics to improve decision-making and solve their most challenging problems. A private company, Qlik offers real-time data integration and analytics solutions, powered by Qlik Cloud, to close the gaps between data, insights and action. By transforming data into Active Intelligence, businesses can drive better decisions, improve revenue and profitability, and optimize customer relationships. Qlik serves more than 38,000 active customers in over 100 countries.

PARTNER

As a Titanium Black Partner of Dell Technologies, CTC Global Singapore boasts unparalleled access to resources.

Established in 1972, we bring 52 years of experience to the table, solidifying our position as a leading IT solutions provider in Singapore. With over 300 qualified IT professionals, we are dedicated to delivering integrated solutions that empower your organization in key areas such as Automation & AI, Cyber Security, App Modernization & Data Analytics, Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure, Workplace Modernization and Professional Services.

Renowned for our consulting expertise and delivering expert IT solutions, CTC Global Singapore has become the preferred IT outsourcing partner for businesses across Singapore.

PARTNER

Planview has one mission: to build the future of connected work. Our solutions enable organizations to connect the business from ideas to impact, empowering companies to accelerate the achievement of what matters most. Planview’s full spectrum of Portfolio Management and Work Management solutions creates an organizational focus on the strategic outcomes that matter and empowers teams to deliver their best work, no matter how they work. The comprehensive Planview platform and enterprise success model enables customers to deliver innovative, competitive products, services, and customer experiences. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with locations around the world, Planview has more than 1,300 employees supporting 4,500 customers and 2.6 million users worldwide. For more information, visit www.planview.com.

SUPPORTING ORGANISATION

SIRIM is a premier industrial research and technology organisation in Malaysia, wholly-owned by the Minister​ of Finance Incorporated. With over forty years of experience and expertise, SIRIM is mandated as the machinery for research and technology development, and the national champion of quality. SIRIM has always played a major role in the development of the country’s private sector. By tapping into our expertise and knowledge base, we focus on developing new technologies and improvements in the manufacturing, technology and services sectors. We nurture Small Medium Enterprises (SME) growth with solutions for technology penetration and upgrading, making it an ideal technology partner for SMEs.

PARTNER

HashiCorp provides infrastructure automation software for multi-cloud environments, enabling enterprises to unlock a common cloud operating model to provision, secure, connect, and run any application on any infrastructure. HashiCorp tools allow organizations to deliver applications faster by helping enterprises transition from manual processes and ITIL practices to self-service automation and DevOps practices. 

PARTNER

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,800 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. For more information, visit www.ibm.com