NICP to push for the creation of a national ICT department

CEBU, Philippines -  The National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) is set to meet with President Benigno Aquino III in its bid to convince the President to install a Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) to sustain the sector’s growth.

The 34-industry-member group recently met with the officials of President Adviser for Political Affairs headed by Ronaldo Llamas, together with assistant secretary Jem Escario and Undersecretary Ibarra Gutierrez, in a preparation dialogue held at the Qualfon office at the Asia Town IT Park in Lahug, Tuesday.

NICP chairperson Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said that the Philippines should install a DICT, as it has already taken off as one of the world’s top outsourcing destination, otherwise, this opportunity will be wasted.

“The growth of the ICT sector is not the ‘handiwork’ of GMA [Glorial Macapagal-Arroyo]. It’s a natural evolution brought about by the cooperation of the stakeholders,” said Sigue in an attempt to convince the administration the importance of setting up a DICT, instead of putting it under the umbrella of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) via the implementation of Executive Order 47.

Although Llamas expressed confidence that there is hope that the President will change his mind, and reverse the process, he however, did not give favorable assurance, saying “It’s the President’s call.”

“We owe it to you [stakeholders] to consult you on your concerns. We will try to fix them and hopefully reverse the process,” Llamas told ICT stakeholders from different organizations across the country.

On the other hand, he warned that the President has different notion and has his own strong reasons for implementing the EO 47.

The Executive Order issued by the President few months back was signed to transfer the former Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT), under the shelter of DOST. This move has disappointed the ICT stakeholders all over the country, specifically that there was no consultation held with the players.

A memorandum will be crafted by Llamas’ office on this matter, to be submitted to the President within the week.

“The executive order 47 downgraded the value and underestimated the importance of ICT as tool for a digitally empowered, innovative, globally competitive and prosperous society where everyone has reliable, affordable and secure information access in the Philippines and a government that practices accountability and excellence to provide responsive online citizen-centered services and a thriving knowledge economy through public-private partnership,” stakeholders said in an official appeal to the President.

The group further said that the implementation of the EO has unjustly overlooked the effectiveness of CICT as an adviser and channel of sound government ICT policies for the last ten years, along with its accomplishments that surpassed the expectations of the ICT community, despite of its budget, which is a pittance compared to the other existing government agencies, which have no clear-cut directions and “no accomplishments to show.”

The group also wants the President to know that by scrapping the CICT, EO 47 has derailed plans to fast track development and provide opportunities for investment and jobs to other regions in the country.     

Aside from its planned meeting with the President, the group has also sought support from the House of Representative, and Senate level to push for the passage of existing Bills to create a DICT.

NICP is composed of 34 ICT organizations and ICT councils around the Philippines. (FREEMAN)