The local government unit of the City of San Fernando is amplifying its efforts to boost the Information and Communications Technology sector – guided by Mayor Vilma Caluag’s thrust in vying to become one of the most livable cities in the country.
Since December of 2022, the City Information and Communications Technology Office, led by OIC Atty. James Francis Villanueva, Marthy Zapata, and Jake Bonus started meeting with San Fernando’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Council members, representatives from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Region 3, Business License & Permit Division (BLPD), City Investment and Promotion Division (CIPD), and leaders in the ICT field from the private sector of the City – where the following are presented and discussed:
• The ICT Plan 2022-2025 drafted by CICTO which contains the existing infrastructure and system development plan of the City Government;
• The Digital Cities Roadmap 2025 and its four (4) Digital City Parameters: 1. Talents, 2. Infrastructure, 3. Cost of Business, and 4. Business Environment;
• Ways on how can the City Government assist the ICT Council in promoting IT within the City;
• Ways on how can the ICT Council and DICT assist in providing free awareness training to Fernandinos, especially to students;
• Ways on how can the ICT Council and DICT help the City Government with its technology projects;
• CICTO also discussed how to provide competitive incentives to BLPD and IPO to encourage investors in the City;
• CICTO inquires from BLPD and IPO about the availability/existence of PEZA or IT Ecozones in the City; and
• DICT opened the possibility of establishing free internet access for city government offices by utilizing the CSF’s ICT infrastructures, which will also benefit the ICT Council’s future project for free wifi access within the City.
Pursuant to Mayor Caluag’s 10-point agenda, the dialogues are aimed at discussing the implementation of major ICT programs in San Fernando, implementing the LGU’s current ICT Roadmap, and exploring ways of continuously developing the ICT community for both public and private sectors.
With its strategic location being the heart and capital of Pampanga, Mayor Caluag aims to make San Fernando a digital city and a center for ICT development.