The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) successfully hosted the ASEAN Girls in ICT Policy Summit alongside the Philippines Girls in ICT Day 2023 (GICT 2023) as part of the National ICT Month 2023.

GICT 2023 took place on June 8, followed by the ASEAN-wide policy summit on June 9, 2023, at Chardonnay by Astoria in Pasig City, Metro Manila. The event was supported by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office in Asia and the Pacific and the Department of Trade and Foreign Affairs of the Australian Government.

These events were organized under the umbrella of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA) program. The program aims to promote the role and value of young women and girls in the field of information and communications technology (ICT). This initiative aligns with the ITU’s decision in 2022 to promote Girls in ICT Day throughout the year, rather than as a one-day global event every fourth Thursday of April.

The Philippine Girls in ICT 2023 event was graced by the presence of Kishore Babu, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) representative for Southeast Asia and other Member States in Asia and the Pacific, followed by Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, the UNICEF Representative in the Philippines.

Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, the DICT Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development (UIID), officially launched the Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA) Philippines, which aims to increase the number of Filipino women engaged in the ICT industry.

The Philippine GICT 2023 consisted of four panels comprising influential women in the ICT field. The first panel, titled “The ITU Girls in ICT Agenda,” featured DICT Assistant Secretary for Regional Development Maria Teresa Camba, Maria Kristine Josefina Balmes, Deputy Executive Director for Operations of the Philippine Commission on Women, and Diane Eustaqio, Startup Innovation Ecosystem Consultant, as the panel moderator.

The second panel, “Breaking the Glass Ceiling for Girls in ICT: Regional Initiatives,” included Frei Sangil, CEO of Layertech, and several DICT directors: Evamay De La Rosa, Regional Director, DICT Region XI; Sitti Alawi, Regional Director, DICT Region X; Cheryl Ortega, Regional Director, DICT Region IV-A & IV-B; and Director Emmy Lou Delfin, ICT Industry Development Bureau, as the panel moderator.

Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue also signed the DIWA Solidarity Agreement with the participants, garnering great support for the initiative.

Panel 3 focused on “Trailblazing Pathways for Girls in ICT” and featured Ma. Gichelle A. Cruz, USAID-Beacon, Gender and Social Inclusion Lead; Michelle Alarcon, President of the Analytics Association of the Philippines; Raisa Orbon, Chief Marketing Officer of Packetworx, Inc.; and Gail Cruz-Macapagal, Head of Women in Blockchain, with Joie Cruz from Limitless Labs as the moderator.

The last panel, “Girls for Girls in ICT,” was moderated by Patricia Nicole Uy, the DICT’s head executive assistant, and consisted of different empowered DEVCON young members. Catherine Setiawan, the project coordinator of ITU, presented on the AI and Gender of ITU.

The Girls in ICT Day Philippines 2023 and the ASEAN Girls in ICT Policy Summit underscored the Philippines’ commitment to fostering gender equality in the digital sphere. These events provided a crucial platform for young women and girls aged 12 to 24 to enhance their digital skills, access policy-making forums, and contribute meaningfully to the digital transformation and development in the region.

The second day of the event, known as the ASEAN Girls in ICT Policy Summit, featured empowered international speakers with different areas of expertise. The opening remarks were delivered by DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, who emphasized the unique perspectives and contributions that women bring to the field of ICT.

The first panel of the second day, titled “Sharing Good Practices from the Previous Girls in ICT Day Celebration in Southeast Asia from ASEAN,” included esteemed speakers from different Southeast Asian nations. The panel was moderated by Rury Demsey, a Junior Project Officer at the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Panel 2, “Girls in ICT Day Group Session: Girls and Female Youth Representatives from ASEAN,” featured Lenlen Rosalyn Mesina from UN Women Philippines, Maria Teresa Magno Garcia, Director IV of ILCDB, DICT, and Maria Victoria Castro, Director of the National ICT Planning, Policy, and Standards Bureau (NIPPSB), DICT, as the panel moderator.

Panel 3, “Girls in ICT Day Group Session: Academe-Industry Collaboration,” included speakers Kristelle Ong, Managing Director of the Philippine Call Center Institute (PCCI); Celeste Ilagan, Policy and Regulatory Affairs Representative of the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines; and Judy Saw, Director of Business Development at Wissen International. The panel was moderated by Bless Ann De Vera, Generation Connect for Asia-Pacific Youth Envoy from The Philippines, and Karenina Nuraini Yustika, Generation Connect for Asia-Pacific Youth Envoy from Indonesia.

Catherine Setiawan also presented on the “ITU Project on ‘Enhancing the Development of Standards and Frameworks for Critical Technologies in Southeast Asia’.” Shumate Royo, Co-Founder at ATT3ND, moderated Panel 4, titled “Enhancing Women’s Participation in STEM.” During this panel, student attendees were grouped with esteemed leaders in different fields to discuss ideas that could improve the representation of women in the technology industry, with the leaders providing advice to the younger participants.

Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue outlined the action plan of the ASEAN Girls in ICT Activities, followed by closing remarks from Assistant Secretary Camba.

As part of the celebration of June as National ICT Month (NICTM) 2023, this two-day program brought together a diverse range of participants, including keynote speakers, expert panelists, and innovative workshop leaders. These ICT experts shared their knowledge and insights, fostering an enriching environment for attendees to learn about the latest trends in ICT, network with like-minded individuals, and connect with potential mentors and role models.

“We are committed to increasing the participation and access of young women and girls in ICT. This event is a tremendous opportunity for them to enhance their digital skills, learn from experts in the field, and network with peers and potential mentors,” said DICT Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, the chair of NICTM 2023 and convenor of DIWA.

Through this initiative, DICT aims to design more platforms and solutions to advance gender equality, expand the influence of women in ICT, and ensure that girls and young women play a vital role in the digital transformation of the region, emphasized Batapa-Sigue, who also serves as the Philippine councilor to the ITU Council.

These events represent an important step toward a more inclusive digital future, where women are not only participants but also leaders and innovators. They send a strong message to the global community about the essential role of young women and girls in shaping the digital landscape in the Philippines and beyond.