The long wait of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in the Philippines
The long wait of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in the Philippines is finally over. President Aquino has signed the bill creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The DICT Act of 2015 will also be known as Republic Act (RA) No. 10844. “The DICT shall be the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing and administrative entity of the Executive branch of the government that will plan, develop and promote the national ICT development agenda,” the new law read. Among its powers and functions include establishing a free internet service that can be accessed in government offices and public areas; assisting in the dissemination of vital information essential to disaster risk reduction through the use of ICT; and ensuring and protecting the rights and welfare of consumers and business users to privacy, security and confidentiality in matters relating to ICT, among others.