THE Department of Communications and Information Technology (DICT), through its Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurial, and Economic Development (Tech4Ed) program, is eyeing to make Negros Occidental a digital province by 2020.
Romeo Tome, provincial officer of DICT-Negros Occidental, said most local government units (LGUs) in the province already have Tech4Ed centers since the program was implemented in 2015.
Tome said these centers have provided trainings mainly on digital literacy especially those in the countryside aside from giving access to government services portals.
"The DICT wants all Filipinos to know how to use computers. It aims for inclusive growth, no one should be left behind," he said, adding that the program targets all sectors of the society especially those "neglected" ones like persons with disabilities, senior citizens and out-of-school youth, among others.
In terms of number, there are over 80 Tech4Ed centers established in the province mostly in San Carlos City.
Of the 18 barangays of the northern Negros Occidental city, 13 have Tech4Ed centers.
Those without Tech4Ed centers yet are Calatrava, Toboso, Manapla, Murcia, Silay City, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, Candoni, Sipalay City and Hinoba-an.
Tome said the LGUs were previously required to provide computers for the establishment of the centers.
Tome, however, said some local governments have no budget then thus, the DICT started to provide computers in 2016.
The Tech4Ed centers in Salvador Benedicto, E.B. Magalona, San Enrique, Valladolid and La Castellana are now up for launching after DICT-Negros Occidental has donated computers to these LGUs.
DICT-Negros Occidental targets to fully cover all 32 cities and municipalities next year.
"We are also starting to engage with the Department of Education (DepEd), State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) and libraries under the LGUs," he added.
Among the DepEd Divisions which the DICT has already engaged with for the establishment of Tech4Ed centers included Escalante, La Carlota, Bago and Kabankalan.
Moreover, the Tech4Ed program is mainly designed to complement the government’s goal of achieving inclusive growth through bridging the gap between educational and digital divide.
The centers provide services such as eEduSkills, which focuses on educational and digital divide; eAssist for opportunity divide; and eGovServ devised for direct service to people.
The province currently hosts one of the country's top performing Tech4Ed centers, which is run by the Negros Occidental Language and Information Center (NOLITC).
Tome said these centers have already resulted in gains for the province including creation of employment opportunities through the digitaljobsPH, and improved the digital literacy of the Negrenses.
"The establishment of Tech4Ee centers is complemented by the government's free WiFi project," Tome said as he expressed optimism that Negros Occidental can soon become a digital province.