MANILA – The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines officially turned over a newly launched Digital Transformation Center (DTC) in Cotabato City, with the aim of providing digital resources and training programs to promote digitalization of business operations and job creation among enterprises in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The ceremony was attended by the Embassy’s First Secretary KANNO Chihiro held at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in Cotabato City.
Also present during the ceremony were Assistant Secretary Wilroy Ticzon of the DICT, Director Khalid Hassan of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office-Manila, Executive Director Jonathan Mautikayan of the Bangsamoro Information Communication Technology Office (BICTO), and Director General Surab Abutazil of the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
Also turned-over to five DICT Tech4 ED Centers is a Satellite-based internet connectivity (Starlink) and computers to address internet connectivity challenges, particularly in BARMM municipalities of Upi, Parang, and Buldon, and General Santos City and M’lang in Region 12.
(Courtesy of Embassy of Japan in the PH)
In his remarks, First Secretary KANNO emphasized that while the project was initiated owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project’s promotion of occupational safety and health, and digitalization of business operations prove to be very important even beyond a health crisis.
He expressed hope that the collaborative efforts behind the DTC's creation “will continue to empower more people in the coming years, ensuring the center's positive impact even beyond the project's term.”
In a statement, the Japanese Embassy said that the construction of the DTC is part of the extensive project of the Government of Japan and the International Labour Organization (ILO), titled “Bringing Back Jobs Safely under the COVID-19 Crisis in the PH: Rebooting Small and Informal Businesses Safely and Digitally (BBJS Project).”
Launched in 2021, the project implemented various activities promoting resilience and economic recovery for micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and informal businesses in the Philippines following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Embassy stated.
Japan and ILO have collaborated on numerous initiatives for the Philippines with the common goal of helping improve the lives of the Filipino people, the Embassy added.
(Photo courtesy of Embassy of Japan in the PH)
