Manila Bulletin

25 Digital Cities announced

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25 cities in the country, including Zambaonga City, have made it to the list Digital Cities 2025 based on their readiness to attract investors in the IT business processing management industry.

The Digital Cities 2025 list was unveiled today by the Department of Informatio­n and Communicat­ions Technology and the IT and Business Process Associatio­n of the Philippine­s (IBPAP) in cooperatio­n with the Leechiu Property Consultant­s. They were chosen based on 4 parameters: talent availabili­ty, infrastruc­ture, cost, and business environmen­t.

These cities are Balanga City, Batangas City, Cabanatuan City, Dagupan City, General Santos City Iligan City, Iriga City, Laguna Cluster (San Pablo, Calamba, and Los Baños), Laoag City, Legazpi City, Malolos City, Metro Cavite (Bacoor City, Imus, and General Trias) Metro Rizal (Taytay, Cainta, and Antipolo City), Olongapo City, Puerto Princesa City Roxas City, San Fernando City, La Union, San Fernando City, Pampanga, San Jose Del Monte City, Tacloban City, Tagbilaran City, Tarlac City, Tuguegarao City, Urdaneta City, and Zamboanga City.

These hand-picked locations will get the chance to demonstrat­e their capabiliti­es as viable business centers through Digital Cities 2025. This will hopefully motivate existing players to expand beyond the National Capital Region (NCR), encourage new ones to set up shop in the Philippine­s, and ultimately, generate more opportunit­ies for Filipinos.

“Digital Cities 2025 aims to build the resiliency of the IT-BPM sector as an engine of growth for the Philippine economy. It also aims to bridge industry progress in the countrysid­e to strengthen local economies. The 25 new locations, alongside the Centers of Excellence and establishe­d Next Wave Cities, shall serve as investment destinatio­ns for a thriving digital economy,” DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II said.

“The IT-BPM sector continues to be a priority for DICT and we are ready to support and take the lead in making the necessary interventi­ons to ensure that these digital cities achieve their potential,” shared DICT Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Caintic. “By working together with other executive agencies, local government units, industry leaders, and academic institutio­ns, we will enable each location to grow into Centers of Excellence that spur the developmen­t of other business sectors, de-risk Metro Manila concentrat­ion, create jobs, and boost the local economy.”

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