ILIGAN CITY (PIA) – A total of 367 online freelancers throughout the country attended the 2022 Philippine Online Freelancers Conference (POFCON) here on Nov 8-9.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT-10) held the said conference with the help of the local government unit of Iligan, Filipino Online Professional Service Cooperative (FOPSCo), and other stakeholders.

POFCON 2022 is a national event that brings together online professionals, freelancing industries, and digitaljobsph graduates in an insightful discussion about the digital freelancing industry situation in the country.  

DICT Sec. Ivan John Uy said virtually that they are mandated to “provide every Filipino access to ICT services, as well as to ensure the sustainable growth of ICT-enabled industries in the country for the creation of more opportunities and jobs, especially in the countryside and for our online freelancers.”

Moreover, Usec. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue of ICT Industry Development emphasized that their office is committed to providing support to Filipino freelancers and making the industry reach greater heights, to make the Philippines the fastest-growing market for the online freelancing industry in Southeast Asia.

“We in the DICT continue to find ways to ensure that our support to the industry and its communities become something that is sustainable and impactful,” she said.  

Meanwhile, Marivic Flores, a freelancer and digitaljobsph trainer from Cavite is glad to be given the opportunity to participate in the conference.

“I find this convention as very educational, especially sa isang trainer na kagaya ko, ang dami ko nakuha na mga techniques na pwede kong ishare sa trainers ko as a trainee in digitaljobsph. Napakalaking opportunity nitong event na ito,” she said.

[I find this convention very educational, especially for a trainer like me, I got a lot of techniques that I can share with my trainers as a trainee in digitaljobsph. This event is a great opportunity.]

There were different panel discussions with the topics on the Status of the Online Freelancing Industry in the Philippines, the Potential and Future of Online Freelancing, and Enablers of the Freelancing Industry. Resource speakers came from Virtual Workforce Professionals, Inc., Payoneer, Digital Filipino, Taxumo, Network of Outsourcing Agencies, among others. (LELA/ PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)