THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has expressed optimism that the agency’s collaboration with the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) is vital in developing the industry, especially in the countryside, its official said.
DICT Acting Secretary Emmanuel Rey Caintic, who led the oath-taking and induction ceremony of the new officers and Board of Trustees of the NICP via video conference on Tuesday, January 11, said that as longtime partners, they have jointly strived to achieve our shared goal of promoting and bettering the ICT development in the country.
“We are confident that the new leadership will further our shared goal of bringing more jobs and opportunities for the Filipino people through ICT development,” Caintic in a statement said.
He added that, “we will continue to support your programs and we look forward to more collaboration with the NICP.”
The NICP is the national umbrella organization of all ICT Councils in the country.
These ICT Councils aim to promote their localities as investment hubs for ICT-enabled jobs and industries.
Outgoing NICP president and now the confederation’s vice president, Michael Tiu Lim, shared his positive outlook for the new set of officers this year.
Lim said he is glad that a lot of new blood has come in -- new and old blood.
As he congratulated and recognized all the officers for the past two years who have worked hard to bring NICP back to its former glory, Lim said he looks forward to the current board to make it fly.
“[And] having said that, things are looking good for everyone and I'm glad that the DIC is here with us, of course Secretary Manny and Ma'am Emmy,” he said, adding that “we look forward to have fruitful relationship with DICT for the next two years.”
For her part, newly-elected president Mary Joy Abueg told Caintic that, “we appreciate your continued and strong support to the organization.”
Abueg urged fellow NICP officers and directors to work together for the continuous growth of the organization.
“We will build a warm and friendly relationship with the ICT councils to bring more new members from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. We will continue to empower, improve, capacitate, and adhere to the needs of our stakeholders,” she added.
The NICP president asserted that, “no pandemic, typhoon, nor any disaster will prevent us from achieving our vision.”
The DICT and NICP had collaborated on numerous programs in the past including the Digital Government Awards, Cluster conferences like the Min-Con, Victor, Clickon; The NICP Summit, and the Digital Cities and Provinces Program.
“The NICP has always been a very active partner of DICT in terms of promoting countryside development since its inception. As you are now in your 14th year, we look forward to continuing working with everyone to implement more programs and initiatives” Director Emmy Lou Delfin of the agency’s ICT Industry and Development Bureau (IIDB) said.
Abueg is from Palaweño ICT Association while Lim is from Zamboanga ICT Council.
Other new officers include ArrishAltavano of Albay ICT Association as the secretary, Cherry Mae Busa of Caraga ICT Council as treasurer, and Roberto Tinsay of Malaybalay ICT Council as the auditor.
Committee Directors are Atty. JocelleBatapa-Sigue, Atty. Samuel Matunog, Engr. Roberto Enriquez, Bryan Joseph Banzon, Mary LucetterDela Rosa, Tyrone Paynor, and Efren Daniel De Leon.
Council members, meanwhile, include Teresita Leabres of Cavite ICT Council, JessrafPalmares of Iloilo Federation for Information Technology (Ifit), Hajee Birth Aquino of Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (Bnefit), Roehl Ramon Gurango of Capiz ICT Council, and ExupertoCabataña of Cebu IT-BPM Organization (Cibo).
They will be holding office for a term of two years, expiring in 2024. (With reports from PR)