The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched a new IT training center out of the old Philippine National Bank building last Feb. 17.
The new Tech4Ed/Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) Hub is the second of its kind on the island, with the first launched in Catanduanes State University in 2017.
Virac mayor Sinfuroso Sarmiento Jr. lauded the DICT’s project, adding that the center’s use will be advertised by the Sangguniang Bayan, the department heads, and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation.
“Ining tigtao ning DICT, papakinabangan ning bilog na Viracnon. We will see to it na ini magagamit to its maximum level… So, kaya ko man masasabi na the technology, the materials na pigtao satuya today, will be utilized in its maximum utilization atsaka maalagaan mi man,” Samiento said.
DICT officer Maiko Zafe noted the center is part of the DICT’s mission “to strengthen the use [of] Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to provide opportunities to undeserved and marginalized.”
She added that the center can be used for a variety of functions, including but not limited to assisting farmers with IT services in agriculture, online ALS education and library sources, and streamlining access to government websites.
Engr. Norly Tabo of the DICT explained that the Tech4Ed center doubles as an RIS hub due to some DICT trainees lacking personal computers.
“Ga-training po kami ning mga individuals na un-employed. Ang tiga-training po is pano po isla maging online workers, freelancers. So ang iba pong tiga-training, dai sindang computers. So kaya po ining pigput-up na RIS hub, para sakaling gusto nilang magtrabaho, igwa sindang kliyente, pwede po sinda uya,” she said.
She added that Viracnons will benefit since students can come to the center for research, and that citizens can apply for electronic business licenses through here instead of the Municipal Building.
Tabo told the Tribune however, that if there were no users within 6 months, the department would pull out the center and donate the eight computer units and equipment worth Php 358,770 to other provinces.
She added that the DICT central office can remotely monitor the 4,132 centers through its database.