The Department of Information and Communications Technology sees the declaration of Mislatel Consortium as the third telecommunications player in the country as one of the solutions for its Technology Empowerment for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (Tech4ED) Center program.
Tech4ED Center is a program that will serve as a self-sustaining, shared facility providing access to Information, Communications Technology (ICT)-enabled services and relevant content, and act as a conduit for the efficient delivery of government and other services as a potent tool for the empowerment and participation of the un-served and underserved communities in development.
The Center will serve as a knowledge area promoting digital literacy, business hubs and delivery channels of government services targeting individuals including out-of-school youth and adults, senior citizens and the general public.
DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio, Jr. said that they have a hard time expanding their center to other municipalities due to the non-existence of telco towers in those areas.
“We are having a hard time in reaching out to those areas because of the non-existence of telco sites, which is why we are the ones who are creating the solution,” Rio said.
He added, “We will no longer be dependent on Globe Telecom and Smart Communications wherein we get our internet connectivity, which will be badly for Tech4Ed Centers.”
DICT-Davao Director Alimbzar Asum cited the lack of areas and operation managers wherein the Tech4Ed Centers will be established.
DICT Regional Operations Coordination Service Amelia Dean also said the operation managers, as appointed by the local government units share responsibility in maintaining these Tech4Ed centers.
“When we established the center together with the government, schools and private organizations, all the necessary equipment and platforms are already there,” She added, “It depends now with them they can operate and sustain the service of the center.”
Dean also disclosed that not all municipalities were able to sustain the program.
DICT Director Maria Teresa Camba said that out of the 2,300 Tech4Ed centers in the country, 33% of which are from Mindanao.
The agency aims to set up additional 1,700 Tech4Ed centers next year.
