DICT boasts PH efforts in bridging gender gap

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Efforts of the Philippine government to reduce the digital divide and digital gender gap took the spotlight at a recent United Nations meeting.

At the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) in New York, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo cited several Philippine laws that create an enabling environment where women’s and girls’ rights and safety are promoted and protected.

These include the Magna Carta of Women, the Anti-Discrimination Against Women Act, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Law, and the Safe Spaces Act.

DICT programs to bridge the digital divide include the Free Wi-Fi for All, the Tech4ED project, and DigitalJobsPH, which improve ICT services in rural areas.

Lamentillo also cited the Digital Cities 2025 program, which expands the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector and boosts local economies in the countryside.

“Through policies, programs, and initiatives that prioritize digital inclusion and gender equality, the Philippine government is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind, that every individual, regardless of gender, has access to and can fully participate in the digital economy,” Lamentillo said.