PH Advocates Narrowing of Digital Divide in International Meeting

Ambassador Evan Garcia, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva (left), and Atty. Rodolfo Salalima, Secretary for the Department of Information and Communication Technology, lead the Philippine Delegation to the 2017 Session of the ITU Council in Geneva from May 15 to 25.

18 May 2017 GENEVA—The Philippines will advocate concerted global action to help narrow the digital divide during the 2017 Session of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council being held in Geneva from May 15 to 25.

Led by Atty. Rodolfo Salalima, Secretary for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Philippines will highlight the role that public access to information and communications technology (ICT) can play in helping spur development.

“The international community must continue working together to ensure that the public is able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by easy access to the internet, mobile telephony, and similar technologies,” said Ambassador Garcia.

The Philippines is a member of the ITU Council, a specialized UN agency tasked to promote and regulate the use of ICT, including the allocation of global radio spectrums and satellite orbits. Sec. Salalima is also a member of the Advisory Board of ITU’s Smart Sustainable Development Model, an initiative that aims to enhance disaster management through better response and recovery systems.

The ambassador noted the key role of ICT in helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. “ICT underpins our common goals of ending poverty and hunger, ensuring access to education and sanitation, promoting sustainable cities and clean energy, and empowering our women and youth. ICT is not only crucial for these goals; it is in fact necessary to empower developing countries and help them address the challenges of development,” he said.

The 2017 session of the ITU Council is also expected to advance discussions on efforts to increase investments in ICT; the potential for artificial intelligence to promote development; and enhanced cybersecurity, among others.

For more information, visit www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/genevapcg. END