Twenty-five (25) Digital Cities are set to be named as the center of focus for new economic development in the next three years. This initiative is geared to sustain the rapid growth of the Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector and promote countryside development. This event forms part of the Department of Information and Communication Technology’s (DICT) National ICT Month 2020 Celebration with the banner of “Maximizing ICT for the New Normal”.
The DICT, through its ICT Industry Development Bureau (IIDB), has partnered with the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) to organize an online press conference which shall mark the launching of the Digital Cities 2025 and the announcement of the country’s next 25 Digital Cities on June 30, 2020.
Previously termed Next Wave Cities™, the Digital Cities 2025 program is expected to determine the industry-readiness of new centers by creating and developing ICT hubs in identified locations. These ICT hubs shall serve as business and innovation centers to draw in investments that can be expected to create more jobs and other economic opportunities in areas outside the National Capital Region.
Under the program, Local Government Units, ICT Councils, and IT-BPM locators will have access to information on strategies and best practices from the private and public sectors to effectively develop and grow the IT-BPM industry in the regions.
“We believe that the Digital Cities 2025 program will help focal areas promote local participation in order to strengthen their economies and governance systems in the New Normal setting,” DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II said. “This significant movement also aligns with the President’s ‘Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa Program’ under Executive Order No. 114,” he added.
The announcement of the 25 Digital Cities is to be made on the Zoom platform and livestreamed via the DICT’s official Facebook page on June 30, 2020. National and Local Government Agencies, ICT Councils, DICT Regional Clusters as well as investors are expected to attend the live virtual event.
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