EIGHT CITIES and one town in different parts of the country launched their five-year digital city roadmaps on Thursday, aimed at creating more than 100,000 local jobs, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced.

“Of the 31 cities launched as part of the Digital Cities Program in June last year, nine cities successfully completed their five-year roadmaps and launched them today,” the DICT said in an e-mailed statement.

These are the cities of Balanga, Batangas, General Santos, Iligan, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga; and the first-class municipality of Taytay in Rizal.

DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II said these local governments’ information and communications technology roadmaps should “improve the readiness of their localities for the digital economy.”

“The goal is not just to recover from the economic slowdown, but to further boost growth for our local industries and our local communities,” Mr. Honasan noted.

The digital city roadmaps also aim to bridge the progress gap in the countryside, he added.

The DICT, Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, and Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc. launched the “Digital Cities 2025” program last year, covering 25 locations and 31 cities.

These areas are expected to attract an estimated P70 billion in investments from business process outsourcing companies in the next few years.

Within the five-year program, the identified cities will be prioritized for internet connectivity and digital education for the talent pool. — Arjay L. Balinbin

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