LILOY, Zamboanga del Norte, Mar. 6 (PIA) - The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)-9 launched here recently the first ever municipal-based Digital Transformation Center to be managed by the local government unit.

The Digital Transformation Center is a project of the DICT aimed at harnessing Filipinos with high-calibre ICT skills and resources.

It will serve as the Public’s I-C-T Hub where incubation for start-ups happen, co-working space for innovative collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and training especially tailored to fit community needs. The DTC will develop and strengthen homegrown talents with world-class digital capacities. 

DICT Assistant Secretary and concurrent Officer-in-Charge of Region 9 and BASULTA, Maria Teresa M. Camba, together with Mayor Roberto L. Uy Jr., and other officials led the ribbon cutting and launching ceremony of the DTC.

Mayor Uy shared that with the Digital Transformation Center in Liloy, “we could encourage our constituents to work and stay in our municipality, in order for us to grow, to make our community more progressive. Dito sila nabubuhay, dito rin sila gagastos. It would have a domino effect on our economy.”

The Oath Taking of the Liloy ICT Council was also part of the Launching Program. The following are the members of the ICT Council: 

Chairman : ROBERTO L. UY, JR., CPA – Municipal Mayor
Co - chairman: JOHN MOMAR T. INSONG – Vice Mayor

Members:
MARILOU G. BIHAG – SB Member/ Chairperson committee on Education

DR. NUEVA ERA VALLES ARANAL- School Administrator, Ave Maria College

ROSELLER T. MURRO – District Supervisor District I

EDDIE E. REFUGIO - District Supervisor District II

RONALDO B. BAROTE - Municipal Agriculturist

MAE T. MOLINA - Admin. Asst II, Tech4Ed Center Manager

EDWARD LAQUINON - Alternate Tech4Ed Center Manager

DR. MA. LOURDES S. LANGCO - Municipal Dentist /MNAO\ 

ROSITA F. DELOS NIEVES - Municipal Treasurer

Engr. BILLY S. JATICO – MPDC

VIRGIL R. LANGOMEZ - Teacher III LNHS ICT In-charge

JULIETA BANDICO - TESDA Focal Person

REGINALDO E. EROY - SB Secretary/PESO Manager

EDWIN B. OCTIZA - BPLO Designate

JEOFREY A. GOMISONG - Agri-Aqua Development Coalition (AADC-Mindanao)

JESSICA B. MANGUMPIT - Villa C. Sudiacal Rural Improvement Club (VCS - RIC)

JULES IAN N. DAAROL - Website Admin

RODRIGO B. BAROTE - OSCA Head

RONA MAE T. LISMIS - MSWDO

CHELITA A. GALLO - PWD Focal Person

HELEN M. ESCUADRO - 4Ps Parent Leader

ANNIE LUBANDINA – Women's Association Overall President

NELSON S. QUIRANTE - SB Member – Chairperson, Comm. Labor & Employment Comm. on NGO

MICHELLE S. UY - SB Member/Chairperson - Comm. on Health, Sanitation and Beautification

RONIE R. SORIA - SB Member/ Chairperson Trade, Commerce, and Industry

ROGELIO M. ISIP - Provincial Board Member /ABC Federation President

JOSEPH IAN P. OBINA - Sanitation Inspector /IT Technician

PILARITA B. ACABO - LCR

The Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA) Dialogue was conducted in the afternoon of the same day to serve as the first activity in the Liloy Digital Transformation Center.  The Digital Innovation for Women Advancement is an initiative of the DICT in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that aims to empower women through the use of digital tools and technology. 

In 2021, DICT launched the first Digital Transformation Centers in the Philippines located in DICT offices of Isabela City, Basilan; Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte; Zamboanga City. The first barangay-based DTC was launched in 2022 and is located in SK Mercedes. The DTC in Isabela City, Basilan houses 41 computers and can accommodate 50 people at full capacity, Dipolog City DTC has 20 computers with 35 in-person capacity, while Zamboanga City DTC has 37 computers with 52 persons at full capacity. The DTC in SK Mercedes has 10 computers donated by the DICT. For DTC Liloy, a total of 17 computers and 1 printer were granted to them. 

The DTC Initiative was launched in September 2019 by ITU, in partnership with Cisco with the objective of supporting countries to strengthen the digital capacities of citizens, particularly in the underserved communities. The selected DTCs become part of a global network of institutions to accelerate the uptake of digital technologies among citizens and boost the capacity of young entrepreneurs and SMEs to succeed in the digital economy. (NBE/EDT/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte/with reports from DICT-ZN)