Cuisia: DICT to prepare country for global thrust

The creation of a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is expected to strategically position the Philippines as a leader in the global ICT market and other related sectors, according to the country’s envoy to the United States.

“(The DICT) would support not just the business process management industry where the Philippines is already a leader, but also all other ICT-enabled sectors. It would likewise improve over-all economic competitiveness through enhanced digital connectivity and integration,” Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said in a statement.

Most importantly, there would be limitless possibilities for the creative, Internet-savvy Filipino, especially the young, he said.

Cuisia said the enactment of the DICT Act of 2015 or Republic Act No. 10844 has been supported by the American business community and would long be remembered as one of the important pillars of President Aquino’s economic legacy.

President Aquino signed this week RA 10844, which would be the “primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing and administrative entity of the Executive Branch … that will plan, develop and promote the national ICT development agenda.”

Under the law, the existing Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) would be renamed the Department of Transportation. All of its communication units would then be transferred to the DICT.

The new agency’s powers and functions would include formulating, recommending and implementing national policies, plans, programs and guidelines that promote the development and use of ICT; develop and promote ICT education; and provide an integrated framework to optimize state ICT resources and networks.