Press Release
June 2, 2011

STRENGTHENING ICT, DATA PRIVACY KEY TO PHL
COMPETITIVENESS - ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that strengthening information communication technology (ICT) and ensuring data privacy are central to sustaining the growth of the business process outsourcing (BPO) and ICT-oriented sectors.

Angara said that as business models worldwide continuously shift to technology-based applications, the Philippines must be able to secure sensitive digital information through policies and laws on par with international standards.

Issues, such as intellectual property and lack of broadband infrastructure, are hindering the growth of the country. These need to be addressed immediately, said Angara.

Experts discussed issues surrounding the growth of cloud computing in the country at a recent event "Leveraging the cloud to promote sustainable development," hosted by the Business Software Alliance (BSA).

Angara noted that big ICT companies, such as Cisco systems, Microsoft and Intel, project the exponential growth of internet use and, concurrently, the transmission of large amounts of data worldwide. He said broadband penetration in the country remains weak and infrastructure to support growing data demands is still lacking.

He added that the country will benefit from the creation of a Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), a dedicated agency that can implement the proper strategy to keep the country competitive in ICT.

The National Economic and Development Authority said the transformation of the present Commission Information and Communication Technology into the DICT will strengthen our national ICT industry.

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