The Philippines and Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) in Tokyo on Monday, June 23.
The deal was prompted by the adoption by the Philippines of the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) as the local standard for Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB).
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) secretary Mario G. Montejo and Japan?s Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Yoshitaka Shindo inked the agreement, which coincided with the working visit to Japan of Pres. Noynoy Aquino.
Although Aquino has already gone back to the country, Montejo and a delegation composed of lawmakers will be staying in Tokyo until Saturday, June 28, for ICT policy dialogues and site visits.
Together with Montejo in the trip are Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Representatives Joel R. Duavit, Victor J. Yu, Mariano U. Piamonte Jr. and Mariano Michael M. Velarde, Jr. of the Senate and House Committees on Science and Technology.
In a statement issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the MOU is meant to encourage cooperation and accelerate development and integration in the field of ICT between the DOST and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Cooperation (MIC) of Japan.
The agreement covers a number of key areas of common interest to both the Philippines and Japan. These include, among others, cooperation for the implementation of the DTTB, development and usage of ICT in disaster risk reduction and management programs, formulation of ICT policies on cyber and information securities, enhancement of cyber security programs and protection against illegal cyber activities, and promotion of a secure online environment for public services (e-commerce and e-government).
