The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) has recognized and chosen Puerto Princesa City as part of its Digital Cities 2025 Program, which the city will be promoted as viable investment destinations for Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Management (BPM) Industry.
In his letter to City Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron, DICT Secretary Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan III congratulated Puerto Princesa City to become part of the program.
He explained that Digital Cities 2025 is a program initiated by the DICT, the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC).
The signatories of the Certificate of Recognition for Puerto Princesa City were Secretary Honasan, Rey Untal, President and CEO of IBPAP, and David Leechiu, CEO of Leechiu Property Consultants
“This initiative aims to build and grow the capability of the countryside for the IT and Business Process Management industry as an engine of growth for the Philippine economy,” Secretary Honasan said.
The 25 cities under the program were chosen using a scorecard developed by DICT and IBPAP with insights provided by Leechiu Property based on a set of parameters reflecting priority areas for investors and locators—talent availability, infrastructure, cost, and business environment.
Chosen as Digital Cities 2025 were 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, San Jose Del Monte City, Tacloban City, Tagbilaran City, Tarlac City, Tuguegarao City, Urdaneta City and Zamboanga City.
These 25 cities are considered as new areas where the industry is expected to thrive in the age of the “new normal”.
Honasan further explained that Puerto Princesa City, alongside other identified Digital Cities, will undergo a number of interventions for Institutional Development, Infrastructure Development, Talent Attraction and Development, and Marketing Promotion.
The IBPAP said that the countryside remains full of untapped potential and harnessing this can lead to countless more opportunities for continued expansion and sustained growth for the sector.
Based on the initiative’s mid-term development plan, the industry will endeavor to make each city one a top-of-mind destination for global investments.
These cities, the focus of economic development in the next three years, will be developed into ICT hubs and will serve as business and innovation centers to sustain the rapid growth of the IT-BPM sector.
The 25 new destinations are also expected to draw in investments that would create more jobs and other economic opportunities in areas outside Metro Manila.
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