Joint chambers push ICT department

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate should pass a bill that will create a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) that would pave the way in making the Philippines the premiere location for IT-enabled services in Southeast Asia, foreign businessmen said yesterday.

In a letter to the Senate, the Joint Foreign Chambers in the Philippines (JFC) joined local groups like the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP), the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and the Call Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) in calling for the passage of Senate Bill “An Act Creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology”.

“The Philippines has the opportunity to become the premiere global location in Southeast Asia for IT enabled services as well as to leverage the numerous advantages of information technology for the delivery of government services to Filipinos throughout the country,” the JFC said in their letter to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

According to them, the creation of DICT can greatly speed up the process of the Philippines becoming an information economy, thus improving overall Philippine competitiveness.

They warned that other economies are competing with the Philippines for its growing share of a huge global services sector. “We must take full advantage of the Philippines ’ early-mover lead today,” the group said.

JFC said that their position is based on the crucial role that information technology and communications play in the local economy.

The group explained that in an era of globalization, ICT is an important vehicle enabling the private sector to be more competitive.

According to them, ICT plays a key role by enabling the government to become more efficient and effective in the delivery of social and information services.

Given current developments in the ICT sector, it is vital that the Philippine government fully embrace ICT to support continuing rapid sectoral developments, the group also said. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)