TACLOBAN CITY, October 26, 2023 – Signifying a bold move towards advancing the digital frontier in the Philippines, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) collaborated with the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) and other major stakeholders to host the 11th Visayas ICT Cluster Summit (VICTOR) and the 8th Creative Congress (CREACON). Held at the People’s Center and Library from October 23-24, the event aimed to leverage the Visayas region’s capabilities for sustainable economic growth through digital transformation and creativity.

Under the banner “Capturing the MAGIC in 3D,” the summit focused on three cornerstones: Digital Innovation, Digital Governance, and Digital Workforce. This theme underscored the urgency for an integrated approach to enhance the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem in the Visayas.

DICT Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, highlighted the importance of multi-tiered collaboration. “Cities should vie for leadership in job generation. The vision is clear: to ensure inclusive decision-making processes and empower communities. We need to be the bedrock of trust and collaboration at all levels,” she stated.

DICT Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue addressed national and local officials, NICP and DICT officials, ICT Councils, the academic and business sectors. She began by reflecting on the inception of VICTOR 11 years ago. The theme discussed was capturing the “MAGIC” in 3D, focusing on Digital Governance, Digital Workforce, and Digital Innovation.

In 2008, Batapa-Sigue joined forces with a group to establish the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines. Their primary objectives included representing digital stakeholders from rural areas, championing digital development across the entire nation, and facilitating the exchange of best practices.

She emphasized the role of ICT Councils in aiding DICT to achieve their ASEAN goals and to lead in various areas like developing roadmaps and the core principles to effectively execute the Digital Innovation for Regional Ecosystem and Countryside Transformation (DIRECT) projects.

Highlighting the Digital Cities Program, Batapa-Sigue called for greater collaboration among cities, individuals, communities, and organizations. The emphasis is on collaborative decision-making, empowering communities to shape their futures, and fostering trust on both local and national levels.

The Undersecretary stressed the importance of empowering local communities economically and socially. Building innovation ecosystems where solutions to real-life problems can be ideated and developed is crucial. Batapa-Sigue also commented on the evolving ICT models, which have redefined the digital workplace. Filipino enterprises now offer end-to-end digital solutions and tap into global talent pools. She highlighted the rise of digital freelance platforms, shared service models, and hybrid workplaces, all of which promote remote employment and flexibility in work arrangements.

Emphasizing fairness, Batapa-Sigue talked about the need to ensure that economic benefits are shared equitably. The focus is on community-based solutions and social resilience, ensuring that no individual is left behind. A strategic program named Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA) was introduced. DIWA aims to bridge the gender technology gap, particularly for marginalized women. It focuses on empowering women in the tech sector and aligns with sustainable development goals.

The Undersecretary highlighted the importance of innovative and creative solutions to societal challenges through digital technologies. Policymaking, based on her experience, is vital in establishing these innovative models and structure and emphasized the collective goal of advancing digital transformation while ensuring equity, inclusivity, and resilience for all.

She introduced the Regional ICT Summit and Exhibitions (RISE) program, designed to foster countryside development and maximize the role of local ICT councils. Furthermore, the EUREKA framework was introduced for AI Policy and Strategy, focusing on six pillars like education, universal access, and responsible AI.

The INSPIRED initiative aims at developing the IoT technologies in the country, touching various aspects from vision to international collaboration. The IoT National Strategy for Policy and Industry Roadmap and Ecosystem Development (INSPIRED) aims to guide and accelerate the growth of IoT technologies in the nation. INSPIRED is designed to present a clear vision for the IoT sector, detailing desired outcomes in sync with the national agenda. It encompasses a holistic policy framework addressing aspects like data privacy, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property rights. Essential elements also include infrastructure enhancement, promoting industry-wide collaborations, emphasizing research and innovation, fostering skills development, identifying impactful IoT use cases, and ensuring robust cybersecurity and data governance. Furthermore, it outlines financial mechanisms to support IoT endeavors and emphasizes international collaboration and standardization. Overall, INSPIRED provides a cohesive strategy for IoT development, ensuring alignment of stakeholders and capitalizing on the benefits of IoT technologies for socio-economic upliftment.

The essence of digital transformation, she pointed out, is not just technological adoption but a fundamental shift in mindset, emphasizing strategy and innovative thinking. Quoting Thomas Freidman, she described how globalization has made the world interconnected, emphasizing the need for localized units to respond to global dynamics.

The commitment to transforming Tacloban City into a pivotal ICT hub in Eastern Visayas was further reinforced by Emmy Lou Delfin, Director of the DICT-ICT Industry Development Bureau (IIDB). The initiative aligns with the broader Digital Cities Program.

High-profile attendees such as Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, 4th District Representative Christopher de Venecia, Tacloban City Councilor Christopher Randy Esperas, and Tingog Party List Secretary General Jonathan Calbara showcased their support.

The VICTOR summit shed light on critical areas for digital advancement in the Visayas, encompassing topics like local government policies, digital skills development, and industry transformations through digital innovation.

A landmark agreement on the second day of CREACON between the DICT-IIDB, NICP, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, and the Animation Council of the Philippines aims to nurture young Filipino talent in game development and animation. The collaborative effort, solidified with a symbolic handshake, sets the stage for the Philippines to emerge as a digital creativity powerhouse on the global map.

In his speech at CREACON, Congressman Christopher De Venecia emphasized the importance of collaboration and community in the creative industries. He acknowledged that while creativity might start with an individual, it flourishes best within a community. Congressman De Venecia expressed his excitement about the upcoming pitches, underlining the need to provide platforms for those bursting with creativity. He highlighted that the intent of the law is to equip creators with not only platforms but also resources and training to further empower them. He believes this contributes to the growth of the creative economy and takes Filipino narratives to an international stage. Highlighting current trends, he said that “hyperlocal is the new global”, implying that authentic and local content is gaining more traction globally. He referenced the popularity of K-Dramas as an example of localized content gaining global attention.

Furthermore, CREACON discussions highlighted the rich digital creative talents within the Visayas. Expert panels delved into the potential of Filipino creative content and the country’s unique artistic flair.

A significant stride towards resilience was marked by the ceremonial handover of Packetworx’s IoT Disaster Management Solutions to six Eastern Visayas provinces, fortifying this typhoon-prone region.

With the Digital Cities Program at its core, the VICTOR and CREACON summits serve as integral platforms, spotlighting the potential of rural areas as prime IT-BPM investment destinations. More than just events, they foster the exchange of best practices, collaboration, and the reinforcement of strategic alliances, positioning the Visayas region and the Philippines as a whole, as key players in the digital age.