KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) --  The province of Aklan will be embarking on a banner program called “Digital Aklan 2024,” a time-bound implementation of digitalization program in all the 17 towns here in partnership with the Provincial Government of Aklan and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

This plan was announced by Aklan governor Jose Enrique Miraflores when he delivered his message during the 10th Visayan ICT Organization (VICTOR) Conference 2022 Governor’s Night in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, held back-to-back with the 7th Visayas Creative Congress (CreaCon) from August 26 to 27, 2022 at the La Carmela Hotel.

The back-to-back activities were hosted by the province of Aklan through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Aklan Tourism and Trade Investment Promotion Center (ATTPC) in coordination with the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) Visayas, DICT Region VI, Aklan ICT Council, and the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT).

The activities were also supported by the Aklan ICT Council, headed by its Executive Director Gabrielle Calizo Quimpo.

The events sought to attract more investors, provide jobs, and vast opportunities in the industry of ICT to propel the province of Aklan into a more digitally-capable place leading to a more progressive economy.

He added that Aklan’s population is relatively young with the youth – with ages 15 to 30 comprising almost 34% of the total population while those with ages 14 and below comprise 29%.

 “Among them have the potentials to be excellent, world-class digital workers. While they may have raw talent, it is of utmost importance that they be provided with a learning environment that will hone and refine such talents. In this regard, we are fortunate to have good schools and universities, complemented by the presence of TECH4ED and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Centers and the availability of regular trainings provided by the DICT,” the governor said.

 He added "We are also pursuing reforms and introducing new programs to inspire confidence in governance. As a consistent Seal of Good Local Governance Awardee, Aklan promotes a balanced development for its priority sectors. The province is also stepping up initiatives to make doing business in Aklan better and more efficient through offering digital transactions such as online payment of taxes and revenues and soon, electronic disbursement.” 

Miraflores concluded his message by telling the participants that for starters in making Aklan digitalized, he has included the passage of the “E-Governance Code of Aklan” in the Executive-Legislative Agenda.

He acknowledged the role of the DICT in the program as he said that they already offer a number of projects for faster, more efficient and transparent government service delivery which are available for the LGUs to adopt for free. (JBG/VGV/PIA6 Aklan)