DICT exec cites role of ICT in women’s empowerment

By Prince Golez

The Marcos administration has been educating and improving the skills of Filipino women on information and communications technology (ICT) in order to empower them.

During the 67th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York, Patricia Nicole Uy, head executive assistant (HEA) of the secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), said the Philippines recently completed the first-ever national survey aimed at gathering baseline data on access, use and skills of women on ICT.

“It identified where women are currently underrepresented in the ICT sector and tailor our efforts accordingly. We also launched the Digital Innovation for Women Advancement Program,” said Uy.

She noted that in 2022, the government trained nearly 94,000 women in 1,100 capability development activities, including web and software development, blockchain, and cybersecurity.

“As we move forward, we will continue to work to ensure that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the opportunities that digitalization can offer. With a focus on inclusivity and accountability, we hope to continue to serve the Filipino youth and women by empowering them in this new digital world,” according to her.

Uy said the DICT has been providing ICT training, programming for children, physical and online learning platforms and cybersecurity certifications and laptops and tablets to improve digital literacy.

Despite the immense benefits of digitalization, it is frequently underutilized, particularly in countries with low levels of digital literacy.

In the Philippines, for example, while 82.7 percent of the population has a Facebook account, only 8 percent of Filipinos aged 15 and above have basic ICT skills, according to Uy.

“Those exposed to social media at a young age tend to follow trends blindly, due to the ‘Fear Of Missing Out’ which usually leads to personal data being collected without their knowledge.

“Therefore, it is crucial not only to provide access to technology but also to educate users on how to use it safely and responsibly,” she said.

Uy noted that around 53.7 percent of Filipino Facebook users also are women, who are at a higher risk of experiencing various forms of abuse, such as sexual harassment and cyberbullying, emphasizing the importance of promoting safe and inclusive digital spaces.

The United Nations Observance of IWD, under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, recognizes and celebrates women and girls championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education.