ILOILO City – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) seeks to close the digital divide in Western Visayas by combining expanded free internet access with large-scale digital skills training programs aimed at improving employment opportunities and economic inclusion.
During the launch of the 2026 National ICT Month celebration, the agency stressed that digital transformation goes beyond building infrastructure and installing free Wi-Fi sites, emphasizing the need to equip Filipinos with the skills necessary to participate and thrive in the digital economy.
DICT Region 6’s training initiatives, offered through both face-to-face and self-paced online platforms, are designed to enhance digital competencies, improve employability, and create new opportunities for communities across the region.
The programs include Digital Workforce and Freelancing courses focused on virtual assistance, AI-powered interactions, and Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) skills; Technical and Programming courses covering foundational technology and cybersecurity competencies; and Digital Literacy training that teaches basic office applications and digital tools for individuals and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Engr. Gymeo Sollano, assistant regional director of DICT-6, underscored the accessibility of the agency’s training initiatives.
“May mga trainings kami ino-offer online. We are calling ‘yung mga interested but with limited resources,” Sollano said.
The digital capability-building programs were highlighted alongside the rollout of additional free Wi-Fi sites and the continued expansion of the Government Network (GovNet) across Western Visayas.
Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Christian Mark Guingcangco said the agency is bringing digital opportunities closer to communities through expanded public internet access.
“By providing free internet access in our public plazas, libraries, and transportation terminals, we are bringing the digital world directly to the countryside,” Guingcangco said.
For DICT officials, connectivity is no longer simply about internet access but about opening pathways to education, jobs, government services, and economic opportunities.
“Connectivity means more than just providing people with internet; it means connecting them to opportunities,” said Undersecretary for Special Concerns Faye Condez-De Sagon.
Condez-De Sagon acknowledged the gains made in the country’s digital transformation over the past decade, including expanded internet access in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, the establishment of thousands of free Wi-Fi sites nationwide, the implementation of the National Broadband Program, and strengthened cybersecurity measures.
Assistant Secretary Engr. Pinky T. Jimenez reiterated that inclusion remains at the center of the agency’s mission.
“The primary advocacy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is to ensure that ‘no one is left behind.’ This initiative encompasses the development of infrastructure, as well as digital upskilling and training programs,” Jimenez stressed.
She said the agency remains committed to helping marginalized sectors gain access to digital technologies and opportunities.
“We want to ensure that they are not isolated and that we are partnering with them to create pathways for digital access and opportunity,” she added./PN
