RECENTLY, my former colleague Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan was sworn in as the new Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). He will take over the portfolio previously held by former DICT Officer-in-Charge Eliseo Rio Jr. who will remain second-in-command as Undersecretary for Operations.
At the oath-taking of Usec. Rio, Sec. Honasan joked that two “lolos” will now be managing the country’s newest department. That’s no cause for concern, considering that between the two septuagenarians are decades of experience, technical expertise, political savvy, and most importantly, a heart for public service.
Both have their work cut out for them though, especially since the DICT is already embarking on some ambitious initiatives including the entry of a third major telecommunications player, the build-up of key infrastructure for a National Broadband Network, the implementation of a new Common Towers policy, the roll-out of the Juan Konek (“Free Wifi in Public Spaces”) project, and ultimately, the growth and development of a true digital economy throughout the Philippines.
A top priority that they should address is to hasten the infrastructure build-up for telecommunications so that we finally catch up with our neighbors and bring internet connectivity even to the most remote corners of our country.
Hopefully, with Sec. Greg’s distinguished profile and political acumen, the DICT could finally implement fully its promise of installing Free Wi-Fi connectivity in priority areas such as state universities and colleges (SUCs), where the gains of internet access would be immediately felt by our students. Based on December 2018 DICT Data, only 17 of the country’s 112 SUCs have been installed the Free Wi-Fi hotspots mandated by law. That’s a deplorable 15 percent achievement rate that needs to be reversed quickly.
We also urge the new leadership to ramp up the DICT’s initiatives in spreading digital skills and literacy, such as with the Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) program. Through RIS, people in far-flung areas receive free training in digital skills, which then enables them to take on Internet-based freelance work, start online businesses or even conduct small-scale IT-BPM operations.
Thousands of Filipinos have been trained since the program started a few years ago, with hundreds now earning higher incomes as a result. In fact, between 2017 and 2018, RIS trainings have helped establish hundreds of MSMEs, who collectively generated up to P10.1 million in sales. This may not amount to much compared to the revenues of IT-BPM operations in our major urban centers. But in far-flung areas where many of these trainings were conducted (like Lamitan, Basilan or Bongao, Tawi-Tawi), such earnings would definitely cause a huge splash in the local economy.
Such numbers demonstrate the palpable benefits when the country widens and improves connectivity. Programs like the DICT’s RIS merely scratch the surface of the immense potential of the country’s digital economy.
During the DICT’s budget hearings last year, I asked the department to come up with a map of ICT goods and services that the country currently produces, so that we can properly locate and quantify the output of the different segments of our digital economy. Hopefully, from this initial map, we can identify not only our strengths but also our areas of improvement, as well as the “greenfield” segments into which we should venture.
I look forward to working on this matter with the two, distinguished grandfathers at the DICT
***
Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 15 years — nine years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 6 as Senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He recently won another term in the Senate. (Email: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara)i/PN
