The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) hosted a pivotal national conference on December 4, 2024, in Kalat Street Extension, Manila. The conference brought together Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from national government agencies, government-owned corporations, and state universities, including Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST). It focused on advancing digital transformation across the public sector.
The event featured the official launch of the CIO Council, mandated by the DICT Act (Republic Act 10844), and unveiled the eGovernment master plan. The CIO Council, formed after eight years of planning, aims to streamline government ICT initiatives and improve inter-agency collaboration. “The CIO Council consolidates efforts from various government agencies, creating a platform for sharing challenges, solutions, and initiatives to enhance e-governance,” said DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy.
ISUFST was represented by Dr. Herman Lagon, the newly appointed Chief Information Officer and Director of the Public Affairs, Marketing, and Media Communications Office (PAMMCO) at the university. His participation underscores ISUFST’s commitment to digital transformation in education and administration. Dr. Lagon’s role is essential in guiding ISUFST’s ongoing digitization and digitalization efforts, helping the university align its ICT initiatives with national developments.
Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr., President of ISUFST, expressed strong support for the university’s involvement in the conference, stating, “This participation is crucial for ISUFST as we continue to integrate digital technologies into our systems and curriculum, enhancing both the quality of education and operational efficiency.”
The conference also included discussions on addressing connectivity challenges, improving digital services, and eradicating red tape through digitalization. Secretary Ernesti Perez, Director-General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), highlighted how digital solutions could ease government transactions and reduce bureaucratic delays. The event also featured the ceremonial signing of a tripartite memorandum of understanding for eGovernment, aiming to streamline public sector digital services further.
As the CIO Council moves forward, it will focus on initiatives such as standardizing data gathering protocols across agencies and optimizing shared data center backup systems, which are expected to result in significant cost savings and more efficient public service delivery (Photos and Text by Herman Lagon/PAMMCO/Published by: Patrick Lance Nacion/MIS-PAMMCO)
