Senator JV Ejercito thanks business groups for its call to pass the long overdue bill creating the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT). The legislator is one of the authors of the bill in the Senate with his version filed in 2013, Senate Bill 1234.

 Referring to the letter written by the groups addressed to the leaders of the Senate, Ejercito believes that it is an urgent call to finally reopen the deliberations before the 16th Congress comes to its sine die adjournment.

 The groups described the bill as a “low-hanging fruit” – legislation that has progressed in both chambers in the last Congress, but failed to pass. “In the case of the DICT Act, it was passed by both chambers on third reading, but the bicameral conference committee was never constituted. Thus, we encourage the Senate to pass the version approved last Congress,” the group said.

 With the emergence of the BPO industry in the country, Ejercito said that it is clear that what is at stake in the Information and Communication Technology industry is growth and jobs. Thus, there is a need to have a dedicated premier government agency devoted to developing and promoting a national ICT strategy.

 “Through the DICT, we can now focus government resources on ensuring universal access and literacy, expanding the use of emerging technologies, and fostering an effective regulatory system for business, three crucial elements of a national ICT strategy,” Ejercito said.

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Press Release

Rikki Mathay /( 02) 5526748