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With the recent launch of the Smart Village Initiative in Sacol Island, Zamboanga City, which marks the culmination of the National ICT (NICT) Month 2023 celebration, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) of the Philippines has made significant progress towards building a digitally inclusive nation.
Ivan John Uy, the secretary of DICT, emphasised the department’s dedication to establishing connections in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) to close the nation’s digital divide.
Sacol Island has been first connected to the Internet by wireless technology, allowing locals to interact with loved ones, conduct online business, access e-wallets and electronic payments, and even register virtual bank accounts.
The International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Smart Village Initiative aims to provide beneficiaries with ICT tools and connections to enhance healthcare, education, agricultural, and local government services.
The whole-of-government strategy entails working in tandem with other governmental departments and organisations, such as the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), as well as private sector partners who will offer skill-training programmes in the Sacol Island Smart Village.
DICT Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Camba emphasised the initiative’s importance in advancing sustainable development objectives and meeting the community’s recognised needs in Sacol. The participation of numerous organisations, both public and private, is essential since the identified community needs may transcend beyond ICT-related issues.
An important step towards the Philippines’ goal of digital inclusion has been reached with the opening of the Smart Village Initiative in Sacol Island. The DICT strives to empower communities and enable them to actively engage in the digital economy by offering connectivity and ICT tools.
With the help of this programme, Sacol Islanders may now gain access to necessary services, enhance their standard of living, and aid in the overall growth of the country. Realising the full potential of the Smart Village Initiative and promoting the digital future of the Philippines will depend heavily on the cooperative efforts of government agencies and private sector partners.
The Philippine economy can become more inclusive by granting remote communities access to ICTs via digital connectivity. Citizens can actively engage in online entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and digital financial services, contributing to the digital economy. In turn, this increases economic opportunities and promotes global economic growth.
Besides, people in rural locations can access online job prospects, remote work options, and online learning platforms by bridging the digital divide. Additionally, it can encourage regional entrepreneurship by enabling locals to launch firms and get access to larger markets via digital platforms. In these locations, increased employment and entrepreneurship can boost economic growth and lower unemployment rates.
Digital connectivity makes it possible for numerous businesses to utilise digital tools and technology, which boosts productivity and efficiency. Remote locations can now have access to digital financial services which promotes financial inclusion and supports economic growth by enabling people and companies in these locations to conduct safe and practical financial transactions.
In addition to being essential for attaining digital inclusion and empowering communities, closing the digital divide in remote areas of the Philippines has significant economic advantages. It creates chances for entrepreneurship, productivity improvements, economic engagement, education, and government effectiveness.
Together, these benefits contribute to economic expansion, the creation of jobs, and general development, promoting a more just and wealthy country.
