BANGKOK 14 September 2022 – The Philippines, in the person of Secretary of Information and Communications Technology, the Honorable Ivan John E. Uy, successfully chaired the Fourth session of the Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Science, Technology and Innovation (ICTSTI) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific held online and in Bangkok on 30 August – 01 September 2022.
This is the second consecutive Committee session in which the Philippines was elected to serve as Chair. Secretary for Science and Technology Renato U. Solidum, in his previous capacity as Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services, served as Chair in 2020.
The Committee meets biennially to discuss the integration of ICTSTI-related issues in development policies, plans, and programs; the transfer and application of technology including space applications and for disaster risk reduction; among others. This year’s session also assessed the Asia Pacific digital transformation landscape, the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway initiative, and the ICT capacity building needs of the region.
Secretary Uy, with the support of Philippine Ambassador to Thailand and ESCAP Permanent Representative H.E. Millicent Cruz Paredes, led the Philippine delegation composed of officials from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok.
In his keynote address, Secretary Uy shared that the DICT “[strives] to be the enabler, innovator, achiever, and leader in pushing the [the Philippines’] development and transition towards a world-class digital economy.” He highlighted that the “Philippines, through the DICT, aims to fulfill its mission of Improved Public Access, Countryside Development, and [the] sustainable growth of Philippine ICT-enabled industries resulting in creation of more jobs.”
Secretary Uy emphasized that “everything starts with access or connectivity.” With projects such as the Philippine ID system as a social and economic platform for public and private services, the Free Wi-Fi for All Program, and the National Broadband Program, the DICT’s vision is digital transformation for the Philippines. This will be fueled by innovative solutions and strategic policies that advance digital services, safeguard data privacy, and promote interconnectedness and interoperability of information.
The Philippines was elected in May 2022 to serve on the Governing Council of the ESCAP Asian and Pacific Training Center for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT) from 2022 to 2025.
For more information on the fourth Session of the ESCAP Committee on ICTSTI, please visit the meeting’s webpage at: https://www.unescap.org/events/2022/committee-information-and-communications-technology-science-technology-and-innovation.
Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs