DICT Banks on Tech and Infrastructure to Ensure PH Global Competitiveness

As the country continues to be embattled by the pandemic, and as the education sector continues to shift to new modes of learning, key leaders and decision-makers gathered at the First Government-Academe-Industry Network, Inc. (GAIN) Webinar to address how this will impact the Philippines’ global competitiveness and human capital development.

Holy Angel University President Dr. Luis Maria R. Calingo shared concerns on higher tuition fees for Zoom Universities and challenges including new teaching strategies to ensure a good learning experience despite social distancing.

“Quality online education takes a lot of work. We need to dedicate adequate resources to design a completely different kind of course, smaller modular pieces, different types of assessments, technology to monitor how students are picking up, asynchronous delivery of material, flip classrooms, online projection of materials, online interactions and so on,” explained Dr. Calingo.

Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT) Director for ICT Industry Development Bureau Emmy Lou Versoza-Delfin shared various projects to better navigate through the new normal including the National Broadband Program, Free WiFi Access in public places and state universities and colleges (SUCs), Tech4ED Centers, Digital Teachers and Leaders, ICT Academy, and Skills Window.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Executive Director Atty. Cinderella Filipina S. Benitez-Jaro discussed the Commission’s plans for the school year 2020-2021, including the rolling opening of the academic year, implementing a flexible learning system, and faculty and development of open education resources. To undertake these, CHED requires assistance on technical support from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), a memorandum on proper implementation of the policies employed by the local government, and training for faculty and administration for professional development.

IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines’ (IBPAP) Rey Untal expressed that while the pandemic was challenging, it also presented learnings as it became a testament to the IT-BPM sector’s resilience. He discussed the industry’s exit framework, which outlines scenarios that focused on meeting a set of criteria before easing out, and strategies in transitioning without a vaccine. With work-from-home (WFH) being seen as a viable arrangement, he shared several challenges on infrastructure to extend WFH capabilities and securing approvals from clients due to concerns over information security.

Integrated Microelectronic, Inc. (IMI) Global Chief HR Officer Francisco “Paco” Romero Milan presented efforts that they spearheaded amid the pandemic for its employees, partners, and the communities. He also emphasized the value of coordination, cooperation, and unity of action when handling a crisis, and how important these are in public and private partnerships.

GAIN President and TeamAsia President and Founder Monette Hamlin closed off the discussion with a question on helping reboot the economy.

Dr. Calingo highlighted the importance of giving businesses and schools the confidence to reopen and create a safe harbor legislation on good faith immunity that would protect businesses and schools from legal liabilities. Untal focused on rethinking the country’s human capital strategy to transform talents into lifelong learners and having the tools needed to mobilize that moving forward.

Atty. Jaro zeroed in on the responsibility to provide a mechanism to continue with an accessible education and asked for everyone’s support, especially DICT when it comes to connectivity and the remedies they would take for schools. DICT Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Rey R. Caintic reiterated the importance of partners keeping an open mind to compromise and the cleaning of regulatory burdens of the Department. Milan cited rethinking the delivery of education to avoid widening the social gap between public and private institutions, efficient public transportation, and improvement of the public health system to help families avoid bankruptcy.

“Talent has always been one of the Philippines’ greatest assets. With the impact of the pandemic, there must be more focus now on further strengthening our human capital strategies. With this GAIN webinar, we are able to put the spotlight on the different government-academe-industry collaborations and partnerships needed to adapt to the new normal, continuously champion our workforce, and maintain our global competitiveness,” concluded Hamlin.

Since its first National Convention in 2018, GAIN has been successful in sparking conversations both in the public and private sectors when it comes to human capital development in the areas of English proficiency and digital literacy to boost the country’s global competitiveness. Last February, GAIN 2020 focused on equipping the current and future Filipino workforce with the proper knowledge and skillsets needed as the global landscape continues to shift due to tech integration, in accordance to the ASEAN Smart City Framework.