Digital cities to empower countryside – DICT

THE government's Digital Cities Framework (DSF) and its Philippine Skills Framework (PSF) will bolster the business process outsourcing sector, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Thursday.

At The Manila Times business process outsourcing (BPO) and technology forum, Jhino Ilano, director of the DICT's Industry Development Bureau, discussed how the DCF will empower countryside areas and how PSF will help Filipinos build a robust skillset.

Through connectivity, the DICT aims to help develop the countryside through its Digital Cities Framework, Ilano said. This involves creating job opportunities in the ICT field and branching them outside Metro Manila.

n DICT Industry Development Bureau Director Jhino Ilano. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

«We do believe that if we're able to do internet penetration connectivity to the rest of the country, a floodgate of opportunities will definitely be open not just with the IT-BPM (information technology-business process management) but with other arrays that would encompass ICT,» Ilano said.

In pursuit of this, the bureau established the IT-BPM career fairs. These career fairs have reached almost 30,000 beneficiaries through creative festivals, expos and conferences and more than 2,000 beneficiaries in its IT-BPM activities, projects and initiatives.

The Manila Times BPO and Tech forum, titled 'Offshoring & outsourcing to the Philippines” is held at The Show Flat, Makati Commerce Tower on Nov. 28, 2024. Speaking at the event were Truth360 founder and President Jocel de Guzman, CyberQ Group Business Operations Senior Manager Marc Orenza, Information and Communications Technology Industry Development Bureau Director Jhino Ilano, Exoasia Innovation Hub founder and CEO Mack Comandante and Figari Solutions Chief Growth and Innovation Officer Anna Joy Rocero. They were joined by The Manila Times' President and Chief Operating Officer Blanca Mercado, Chief Executive Officer Anna Marie Ang Thompson and columnist Ben Kritz. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA The Manila Times BPO and Tech forum, titled 'Offshoring & outsourcing to the Philippines” is held at The Show Flat, Makati Commerce Tower on Nov. 28, 2024.