NICP takes on PDS tasks
The National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) has officially accepted the challenge to undertake six specific programs under the Philippine Digital Strategy 2011-2016 now being crafted by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) with all stakeholders from the private and public sectors.
Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, who was reelected NICP chairperson, said the NICP board approved a resolution adopting the PDS programs on November 26 during the annual board meeting simultaneous with the NICP’s 3rd National ICT Summit in Bacolod City hosted by the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT).
Other NICP officers for 2011 are Lizabel Holganza (Davao ICT Inc.), vice president; Dr. Emmanuel Lagare (Iligan City ICT Council), secretary; George Sorio (Metro Clark ICT Council), treasurer; and Boni Belen (Cebu Educational Foundation for IT), auditor.
The NICP was tasked to assist in branding, marketing and brand coordination of the Philippines, undertake and spearhead career advocacy programs together with the industry and other agencies, and oversee three areas under ecosystem, which are continuous dialogue with local government units, assist in the ranking on the ease of doing business and private sector coordination.
Former CICT Commissioner Dondi Mapa presented the PDS during the summit which will serve as national guidance for public and private sectors in leveraging the benefits of the ICTs for all, as well as to outline national goals and aspirations for information society and digital economy, and to promote the use of ICTs to improve people’s lives and economic opportunities.
The PDS also aims to build capacities for people, industries, and government to participate in the digital economy and recognizes the importance of ICT as a catalyst for a competitive industry, economic growth, good governance and social improvement.
In the presentation, Mapa highlighted that the digital strategy is being adopted as a framework in many countries to develop strong inter-ministerial and inter-departmental co-operation.*
