THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines have signed an agreement to support the development of ICT infrastructure and projects.
The memorandum of agreement signed on Wednesday is expected to fast-track ICT infrastructure development and project implementation.
The two sides agreed on a framework for collaboration in terms of project assistance, capacity building, and formulation of PPP policy and guidelines for ICT, the PPP Center said in a press release.
“Catalyzing digital acceleration and bridging the digital divide require tremendous collective effort. But we need not take the digital transformation journey alone,” Information and Communications Technology Secretary John Ivan E. Uy said in a statement.
“Joining forces, we will deploy services that will create more opportunities for Filipinos, to ensure that no one gets left behind,” he said.
At present, the PPP Center is helping the department review PPP project concept notes and proposals such as the Fiber-enabled Free Public Internet Access Project and the Design, Build and Operate of an underground fiber optic conduit network at the Philippine National Railway from San Fernando, La Union to Sorsogon.
The PPP Center and DICT have also been working on the Regional Ring project which aims to provide government network access at all government agencies and public places in Marinduque and Ilocos Norte.
“DICT will also extend their assistance to implementing agencies that are developing IT projects, and to help them evaluate unsolicited proposals,” PPP Center Executive Director Ma. Cynthia C. Hernandez said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile