Press Release
February 8, 2009

Bats for the creation of DICT
ANGARA EYES GREATER ROLE OF ICT
IN BOOSTING RP'S COMPETITIVENESS

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara today underscored the relevance of information and communications technology in boosting the country's dwindling global competitiveness amid the global financial crisis which pushed world economies into recession.

"Information and communications technology (ICT) is a tool to boost a country's overall competitiveness by improving the efficiency of production processes across sectors and industries, accelerating the growth of knowledge-based services, and empowering people to access unprecedented sources of information and markets," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

He added, "The strategic importance of ICT to national development and competitiveness is undeniable. Through the establishment of DICT, we hope to further promote ICT in the country as a tool to create jobs, improve government services, and empower Filipinos."

Angara emphasized that governments around the world have long initiated policies and creating institutions for ICT growth, using various developmental approaches.

Germany has an inter-ministerial agency handling Information Technology (IT) policies, while France and Portugal have established one central coordinating body, directly answerable to the chief executive.

Countries like China, India, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand, our main competitors in the global offshoring and outsourcing (O&O) market, have already set up ministries or departments to focus solely on ICT.

In contrast, our country lacks a coherent, long-term policy for ICT development, as well as an agency that will implement the strategy. This is the rationale behind the proposed establishment of a Department of ICT (DICT).

Angara, through his Senate Committee on Science and Technology, is set to sponsor the proposal for the establishment of DICT to assume the communications-related powers and functions of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). It will be the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, regulating and administrative entity of the executive branch of the government for ICT development. Malacañang, for its part, has certified the measure as urgent.

"During this particularly difficult period, we need every advantage that we can get. ICT is one way for us to have that advantage. The data and information, if we are able to utilize it properly, will allow us to make faster and better decisions, and react to crisis better, whether it be financial, or health related, or weather and crop forecasting. The possibilities of a unified ICT system in the country, led by the DICT, are endless," added Angara.

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