Improved Internet connection pressed to generate more jobs

The Duterte administration was urged yesterday to fast track programs aimed at improving Internet connectivity in the country, especially in far-flung areas, so that online jobs would be available even in rural areas.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara pointed out that the Rural Impact Sourcing Program of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has a huge potential in providing high-paying and sustainable jobs in socio-economically disadvantaged areas where there is high population but low employment due to lack of investors.

The senator explained impact sourcing is a subsector of the IT-business process management (IT-BPM) industry that pushes forth access to digital markets and rural BPOs as tools for creating internet-based jobs in disadvantaged communities.

“While the IT-BPM industry continues to thrive as one of the country’s top career providers, there seems to be a growing disparity in opportunities provided to people living in our major cities as opposed to those in far-flung provinces,” Angara said.

“We must bridge this gap and bring opportunities in the countryside where they are needed the most,” he said.

Angara said creating more highvalue online jobs in untapped communities is key to advancing the country’s economy and bring about employment opportunities in provinces.

The senator pushed for the increase of the DICT’s 2017 budget for its rural impact sourcing program to as much as P22.5-million in order to help develop and expand the program.

“We are hopeful that our vision of the government bringing 21st century opportunities to the farthest, most impoverished communities of the country will finally be realized,” said Angara who is one authors of the law creating the DICT.

He added those in the provinces should be given an opportunity to find online jobs and need not go to major cities like Metro Manila and Cebu.

“They should be able to stay where their families are and have meaningful work,” he stressed.