The Republic Act 10844
which shall be known as “Department of Information And Communications
Technology Act of 2015” was a breakthrough in our legislature. Our Government
recognized the vital role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in
Nation Building. Formerly, the Department of Transportation and Communication
or commonly known as DOTC caters to the functions of the newly created DICT.
However, with the advent of modern technology and fast pace of progress in
terms of ICT our government made a strategic decision to create a separate
department to cater to this. Recognizing that need for a separate and focused
department for ICT will address our country’s weaknesses and exploit our
strengths in this particular field.
Asian Countries are well known for their advanced ICT and ICT’s role in their
countries development. In terms of labour force and experts in ICT, our country
cannot be discounted. We have experts and growing numbers of professionals in
this field. However for the previous years, this expertise was unnoticed and
underutilized. Majority of our ICT graduates end up to be Call Centre Agents
while others worked abroad in well known ICT companies. With the creation of
DICT, our country will be able to focus in this particular field. This new
department will be the answer to one of our country’s underutilized field of
expertise.
Knowing the purpose of DICT’s creation as a separate department will give us a
better grasp on how could this Department be of help in our present and future endeavours.
As a private individual let me enumerate and express my understanding on
the purposes/objectives of this newly created department as stated in the
Republic Act No. 10844: The first purpose is, “To
recognize the vital role of information and communication in nation-building”.
Our government is on the right track in creating this department in order for a
more focused approach in improving our countries economy and well being. We all
know that our present generation is being dubbed as the “Computer Age”. Hence,
in order for our country to cope up and further develop, our government systems
should be in unison with the demands of this “Computer Age”. As mentioned
earlier, most of our neighbor countries are skyrocketing in terms of
development and progress because of ICT while in the Philippines we have these
underutilized experts and labor force in ICT. The creation of this
department will surely help our country to progress through the field of ICT.
The second purpose is, “To
ensure the provision of strategic, reliable, cost-efficient and.
citizen-centric information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure,
systems and resources as instruments of good governance and global
competitiveness”. Using ICT
in good governance are the words in this purpose that attracts me most. We all
experienced the “slow” or “red tape” processes in our government transactions.
It is sad but it’s true, an average government transaction will take you more
than three days. We are losing money and resources because of these primitive
systems of transactions in our government departments. While some of our
government agencies exert efforts to hasten transactions through ICT, the
absence of law regarding ICT limits the endeavors of our government agencies to
improve their systems. With the creation of DICT, this will be one of the key
factors to make our government services and systems efficient and timely. The
losses, individually or in our government as a whole because of cumbersome
government systems will be lessened too.
Thirdly, “To ensure universal
access to quality, affordable, reliable and secure Id’ services”. We should
accept it that our country in general does not offer free Internet Services
even inside premises of Government Facilities. Sadder to note that majority of
Filipinos don’t have access to internet. While other Filipinos are enjoying the
“Pokémon Fever”, most of our country men have not experienced the presence of
Internet. The worst case is some of Filipinos don’t even know what internet is.
With the above objective, we are hopeful that every Filipino will have access
to quality, affordable reliable and secured internet services. For the greater
good, our fellow countrymen who were not fortunate to learn this technology
will have an opportunity to learn and be educated in the field of ICT.
The fourth is, “To promote the
development and widespread use of emerging ICT and foster and accelerate the
convergence of ICT and ICT-enabled facilities”. Formerly, our ICT experts
flock into Call Centers to work as call center agents. With this objective, our
ICT experts will have facilities to exhibit their expertise. This will put our
ICT experts’ talent on display rather than being underutilized in call centers
or being exploited by foreign ICT companies if they are employed abroad. The
presence of these ICT-enabled facilities will truly enable our ICT experts and
accelerate progress of our ICT industry as well our nation’s economy. Fifth objective is; “To ensure the
availability and accessibility of ICT services in areas not adequately served
by the private sector”. If our government can make ICT services or Internet
Services available to everyone especially in the rural areas then this endeavor
will surely propel our country to be word class. If this will materialize, this
will give way for local people to engage in e-commerce. Market will be easier
for our locals since they will be able show their products without the heavy
labor of bringing it to the cities. This will also avoid “Middle Men Sharks”
who usually prey on local producers by buying local products with low prices
and reselling it to the market with high prices. As a son of a farmer, I know
the hardships of bringing our products to the market and looking for buyers.
With this objective of DICT, greater opportunities for the less provided or the
poor people will be given and progress for all will be given greater chances.
The sixth objective is, “To
foster an ICT sector policy environment that will promote a broad market-led
development of the ICT and ICT-enabled services (1CT-ES) sectors, a level
playing field, partnership between the public and private sectors, strategic
alliance with foreign investors and balanced investments between high-growth
and economically-depressed areas”. This objective might be broad but to
make it simpler, for me it is related to the fifth objective wherein Marketing
opportunities for all specially the less privileged and it will be
available through DICT. Local products can reach international market through
this objective. The seventh is, “To
promote and assist the development of local ICT content, applications and
services which may include support for ICT-based start-up enterprises through strategic
partnerships”. As mentioned
in the earlier part, talents, skills and services of our fellow Filipinos in
the field of ICT will be given chances to grow. This objective will help ICT
based enterprises to start by creating opportunities through partnerships. I
assume that DICT will create windows for these partnerships for our ICT
practitioners and enterprises to engage with.
The eighth objective is, “To
promote the use of ICT for the enhancement of key public services, such as
education, public health and safety, revenue generation, and socio-civic
purposes”. Gone are the days where we rely on the traditional ways of
transacting government services. Usually it will take us three days or more for
a simple government document and/or services. This objective will make
government transactions and services timelier and more efficient. The ninth is, “To encourage the use of ICT for
the development and promotion of the country’s arts and culture, tourism and
national identity”. Our country is full of talented artists who are waiting
to be discovered. However, not all artists are given the chance to show their
talent because of limited avenue and opportunity to showcase their talents. Our
fellow Filipinos needs to travel to major cities and find marketing or
advertising experts in order for them to be known. If they are lucky, then they
will be given a break, if not, some will end up in as bartenders, GROs and the
most gruesome is they will fall as prostitutes. With this objective of DICT,
our talented artists to include their products will be given a chance to be
shown worldwide through ICT. In terms of tourism, places all over the
Philippines will be promoted and the whole world can see the Philippines
through ICT.
The tenth is, “To promote
digital literacy, ICT expertise, and knowledge-building among citizens to
enable them to participate and compete in an evolving ICT age”. We all
agree that education is one of the best solutions to poverty. As we enter the
ICT age, nobody should be left behind. Every Filipino should be given the
chance to be educated and knowledgeable in ICT. Our digital literacy should be
as high as our literacy rate or even better. This purpose of DICT will further
enhance our ability to engage internationally and be world class in all terms
not only in ICT. Eleventh purpose
is, “To empower, through the
use of ICT, the disadvantaged segments of the population, including the
elderly, persons with disabilities and indigenous and minority groups”. ICT
is for all. It is worth noting that in this purpose of DICT that our government
was able to give emphasis in the importance of ICT for our elderly, persons
with disability and our indigenous people. In this context, it means that this
Act provide opportunities for the less privileged too. While providing
opportunities and opening gateways to Filipinos in the field of ICT, the
twelfth purpose of ICT ensures that every Filipino’s right to Privacy and
confidentiality are protected. This is stated in the twelfth purpose which is, “To ensure the rights of
individuals to privacy and confidentiality of their personal information”.
ICT will provide easier access for trade and industry as well as in other
fields of specialties but this does not mean that there will be no control. In my
own understanding, this is one of the checks and balances provided in this
Act. We can freely enjoy the privileges of ICT but not to the expense of
others privacy.
As one of the defenders of this land and our sovereignty, I am aware that the
war of the future will be fought in the Cyberspace. Hence, the creation of DICT
is very timely. As stated in the thirteenth purpose which is “To ensure the security of critical
ICT infrastructures including information assets of the government, individuals
and businesses”, there is a
need to protect assets of the Government to include individuals and businesses.
With the creation of DICT we will be able to focus in the defense of our
Sovereignty in the field of ICT. It should be known to all that through ICT,
every nation is vulnerable to Cyber Attacks. These Cyber attacks can cripple a
government and its economy at one instant, if it will not be checked and left
undefended. Don’t forget the “Bangladesh Case”, where in through ICT,
government money was stolen by ICT scalawags. This case will continue to happen
without the creation of DICT. The last purpose is if I’m not mistaken is
focused in regulating of government and non-government corporations
that dominate the industry of communication. We know for a fact that at
present, there are two major Tele-communications companies controlling the
market of communication. With the previous set up of the government, formerly
DOTC takes charge on the transportation and Communication where in sometimes
the problems being aired against the telecommunication companies are
overwhelmed by greater problems in sector of Transportation. With the creation
of DICT, a sole department will handle these ICT problems to include
tele-communications. This is stated in the last purpose of DICT which is, “To provide oversight over agencies
governing and regulating the ICT sector and ensure consumer protection and
welfare, data privacy and security, foster competition and the growth of the
ICT sector”.
In closing, giving chance for our government to provide us with better services
and opportunities in the field of ICT is worth supporting. We should throw away
the negativity in our midst because this is like a cumbersome baggage that our
beloved country carries in its rise for economic development. Gone are the days
where most Filipinos think that additional agencies in the government will just
form another avenue of corruption. This notion will keep us backwards if we
will not accept changes positively. Besides, in this age of where almost
everything is ICT based, it is very timely that the Department of Information
and Communication Technology was enacted. The objectives of this department
were very clear and purposive. All the purposes have one thing in common, ICT
for the progress and development of all Filipinos and our Nation as a whole.
REFERENCES:
- Republic Act 10844 - Freedom of Information Bill
- www.gov.ph/2016/05/23republic-act-no-10844/ - Act creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology
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