WITH ZAMBOANGA among the “25 Digital Cities 2025,” Mayor Beng Climaco said the local government is working hard to be more competitive and ready for the “New Normal.”
She said despite the Covid-19
pandemic, the City Government continues to take new digital innovation that
will help attract investors to Zamboanga. Just this month, SM opened a mall in
Zamboanga, the first under the Climaco administration, and the first in the
Zamboanga Peninsula region.
The local government also
installed digital security cameras in key areas while telecommunication firms
already rolled out optical-fiber cable system.
Climaco also cited her administration’s thrust to put premium investments on information technology through the 2020-2022 Executive Legislative Agenda.
“The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced our belief that digital and cloud computing is the future. In that light, we are steadfast in exploring digital solutions and systems that will help increase efficiency not only in our healthcare system but also in all aspects of public service,” she said, even noting that the local government’s response to the pandemic utilizes information technologies, with Zamboanga City’s online Covid-19 Dashboard and Tracker System, and the coronavirus contact tracing application developed by the her administration and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
Climaco highlighted and expressed faith in the skills, talents, and expertise of Zamboangueños in ICT as the drivers that would push the city to be an emerging hub for digital companies. “We are confident that our pool of skilled workers and talents can thrust and support BPO and digital (platform) companies willing to invest here in Zamboanga City,” she said.
Being among the 25 Digital Cities, Zamboanga is seen as a center of
focus for new economic development in the next three years, according to the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).
Previously termed Next Wave Cities, the Digital Cities 2025
program is expected to determine the industry-readiness of new centers by
creating and developing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs.
These ICT hubs shall serve as business and innovation centers to
draw in investments that can be expected to create more jobs and other economic
opportunities in areas outside the National Capital Region.
Under the program, the local governments, ICT Councils, and Information Technology and Business Process Management
(IT-BPM) locators will have access to information on strategies and best
practices from the private and public sectors to effectively develop and grow
the IT-BPM industry in the regions.
“We believe that the Digital Cities 2025 program will help focal
areas promote local participation in order to strengthen their economies and
governance systems in the New Normal setting,” DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan
II said. (Zamboanga Post. Jasmine Mohamadsali contributed to this report.)
Like Us on Facebook: The Mindanao Examiner
Like Us on Facebook: The Zamboanga Post
Follow Us on Twitter: Mindanao Examine
Mirror Site: Mindanao Examiner Blog
Digital Archives: Mindanao Examiner Digital
Media Rates: Advertising Rates
No comments:
Post a Comment