Another ICT body not necessary-DOST

CEBU, Philippines - The Business Process Management (BPM) and Information Technology players should let go of their “dream” of hoping for the creation of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) as the Aquino-led government is firm on its decision not to set up another department of the outsourcing and IT sectors.

As far as the Aquino administration is concerned, creating another department to address the needs of the BPM and ICT sector is not necessary, said Department of Science and Technology (DOST) secretary Mario G. Montejo in an interview.

According to Montejo, the Commission of ICT, which is under the umbrella of DOST, is more than capable of handling the needs for the fast growing IT and outsourcing sectors In fact, the budget allocated for the commission is four times bigger than before.

Montejo said even without the creation of a department, the DOST is seeing the importance of the sector to provide employment to the majority. The P100 million budget for this year alone is largely spent in the development of more efficient human resource for the ICT and BPM sectors.

Montejo reiterated that since the DOST has the competence and experience to uphold the interest of the ICT sector, it may not be necessary to install another department to oversee the sector.

Earlier, the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) emphasized that a separate department that will handle the sector is seen to give boost to the country’s big revenue contributor.

NCIP chairperson Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said that the Philippines should install a DICT, as it has already taken off as one of the world’s top outsourcing destination, otherwise, this opportunity will be wasted.

“The growth of the ICT sector is not the ‘handiwork’ of GMA [Glorial Macapagal-Arroyo]. It’s a natural evolution brought about by the cooperation of the stakeholders,” said Sigue in an attempt to convince the current administration of the importance of setting up a DICT, instead of putting it under the umbrella of DOST via the implementation of Executive Order  47.

An executive order issued by the President in 2011 was signed to transfer the former Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) under the shelter of DOST.

This move has disappointed the ICT stakeholders all over the country, specifically that there was no consultation held with the players.

According to the stakeholders, the EO 47 downgraded the value and underestimated the importance of ICT as tool for a digitally empowered, innovative, globally competitive and prosperous society “where everyone has reliable, affordable and secure information access in the Philippines and a government that practices accountability and excellence to provide responsive online citizen-centered services and a thriving knowledge economy through public-private partnership.”

The group further said in its appeal to President Aquino last year that the implementation of the EO has unjustly overlooked the effectiveness of CICT as an adviser and channel of sound government ICT policies for the last ten years, along with its accomplishments that surpassed the expectations of the ICT community

This despite of its budget, which is a pittance compared to the other existing government agencies, which have no clear-cut directions and “no accomplishments to show.”/JMD (FREEMAN)