TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — The city government here, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), conducted a Capacity Development Seminar as a pre-requisite for the creation of its Information Communications Technology (ICT) Council.
Tuguegarao City vice mayor Bienvenido C. De Guzman II said the conduct of the Capacity Development Seminar is the first step towards the fulfilment of the city government?s objective to formulate an appropriate ICT policy and program framework.
Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, executive director of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP), said the presence of domestic airport for easy accessibility and Tuguegarao City being the Cagayan Valley?s center of commerce and education are just some of its strengths to attract potential locators and investors.
?Tuguegarao City is recognized as one of the top 10 emerging cities today. Thus, it is very important that ICT council should be created here in anticipation of the growth of ICT industry and development of the local economy,? she said.
Batapa-Sigue, after her talk, facilitated a workshop aimed at identifying the strengths, weaknesses, and strategies that may be considered in the successful implementation of the Tuguegarao ICT Council.
Some of the issues and concerns identified during the workshop were the mismatch of curriculum with the ICT requirement, limited telco providers, and unreliable power supply.
On the other hand, participants were able to identify various strategies to boost the ICT industry here. They include the conduct of industry need assessment, organization of private IT industry players, and to intensify investment promotion through ICT Council.
Joana May Pagurayan, executive assistant to the city mayor, said the city council will be drafting an ordinance to support the creation of a functional ICT council once the necessary requirements are met by its member-agencies.
The one-day seminar was participated in by representatives from various regional line agencies, business sector, academe, utility service providers, and representatives from the city government. — ALM/Mark Djeron C. Tumabao/PIA 2 ? Cagayan
