An announcement by the Department
of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) highlighted the challenge for
the recent graduates of the Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) programme that they are
expected to be the initial batch of future (RIS) trainers, supported by their local
government units (LGU), and without the need for DICT participation.
The DICT challenged beneficiaries of the
Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) program to be the multiplier effect of real change.
In the 2nd Philippine Impact
Sourcing Conference (PISCON) that was held at the Waterfront Hotel, Lahug, Cebu
City on 3 to 4 May 2018, DICT Undersecretary Monchito B. Ibrahim said, “We hope
you become the initial batch of future RIS trainers. We are hoping you will
actually be able to conduct on your own, with the support of your LGU, the next
batches of RIS training without the need for the participation of DICT.”
With the
theme, “Bringing the Future of Work Opportunities to the Countryside Through
Rural Impact Sourcing,” PISCON aims to guarantee that the Filipino work-force
is future-ready.
The two-day conference presented the challenges of the Future
of Work, and how the RIS program poses opportunities to respond to those, which
were evident on many success stories shared by MSME owners and LGU partners.
An initiative of DICT, RIS is a technical training program
that promotes ICT-enabled jobs as a high value economic activity in rural
communities which are not yet ready to host Information Technology – Business
Process Management (IT-BPM) operations.
USec Ibrahim explained, “Rural Impact Sourcing equips
Filipinos with the skills they need in the future, and ensures that ICT serves
as a catalyst for continuous job creation regardless of where they are located
and their social status.”
Over 500 people attended the event. They
came from different backgrounds such as digital entrepreneurs, freelancers, RIS
graduates, LGU officials and private organisations all over the country.
USec Ibrahim highlighted, “In that way,
more Filipinos can tap into the abundance of digital opportunities. In that
way, you can be a multiplier effect for real change.”
534 participants in over 26 locations
have finished the RIS Technical Training (RISTT) program in 2017. Majority of
the graduates have taken up online jobs or have established their own digital
company. Others have partnered with
local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in producing their digital
content. During the conference, they shared their respective journeys.
Plans for its continuous implementation
in the socially-disadvantaged areas in the country were also laid out during
the event.
68 more locations will be running RISTT
in 2018. 55 local government units (LGU) have signed a commitment of support
for the program during the event.
In the breakout sessions, discussions
centred on trends in online freelancing industry, freelancers training, and
professionalising RIS ecosystem, among others.
PISCON was organized by the DICT, in
partnership with the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) and the Digital
Career Advocates of the Philippines (DCAP).
DICT is
the Philippine government’s lead agency on ICT related matters, having primary
thrusts in the ICT Industry Development, eGovernment, ICT policy development,
Internet for all and Cybersecurity.
NICP is an
organization which spearheads in providing the direction for the ICT industry
in the countryside, and is committed to continually strengthen and nurture its
ICT Councils as they seek to develop their business ecosystems to become
attractive to potential ICT investment/locators and encourage local IT-BPM
entrepreneurs.
DCAP
is an association established to promote the growth of the Online Outsourcing
Industry and advocate for the welfare of online workers in the Philippines.