Public invited to free courses

To achieve the localities’ vision of becoming smart urban areas, their residents must be tech-savvy.
This is why the Department of Information and Communications Technology is encouraging the public to avail of the free training courses offered by the agency.
Jennifer Mejia-Dizon, DICT Luzon Cluster 1 human resources management officer, said the agency is bent on enhancing the public’s technological knowledge not only to promote ICT in the delivery of government service, but also to support localities’ desire of becoming smart areas.
In Baguio, Dizon said the DICT supports the city government’s aim of becoming a smart city, but the reluctance, especially of individuals who are not tech-savvy, is a challenge.
“We support the smart city initiatives, but the challenge is we do not have smart people. Sometimes, people do not want to (engage) in simple GCash transactions,” she said.
Smart cities aim to integrate ICT in their operations and in the delivery of services, including connecting to their citizens. Smart cities are also defined by how much they maximize technology in analyzing, planning, and governing based on the specific data they collect with the use of electronic devices.
The DICT is offering free courses to enhance public knowledge and ability to integrate ICT in their daily lives.
Dizon said they recently graduated a group of senior citizens in the city who enrolled in their free ICT training.
Those who want to be updated on the trend, including women who want to pursue careers in ICT may enroll in the free courses offered by the DICT.
Among its other functions, the DICT is mandated to assist, guide, and support ICT-related activities and initiatives for countryside economic development.
It is also tasked to promote and assist LGUs and local stakeholders in developing specialized ICT-enabled investments areas by providing technical and industry-calibrated assistance in the use of ICT for the enhancement of key public services, development and promotion of local arts and culture, tourism, digital literacy, and talent development. – Jane B. Cadalig