The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday, April 25, joined the annual celebration of International Girls in ICT Day 2024.

From left to right: Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development, DICT, and DIWA Role Model Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Deputy Director for Management Services at the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Honey Castro, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, Field Programs and Development Manager at W4.org Daisy Wachira, and ITU Generation Connect Asia and the Pacific Youth Envoy Karenina Yustika. (Sonny Daanoy/ MB)

In his opening speech, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy highlighted the essence of the international celebration, especially in dealing with the ICT gender divide,

"Today, we convene not merely to celebrate the achievements of extraordinary women nor solely to acknowledge the boundless potential of girls in the ICT sector. Instead, we gather with a collective resolve to dismantle the barriers hindering women's full participation in ICT," Uy said through a video message.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized the celebration at the Far Eastern University (FEU) Technology Innovation Center, in Manila.

For this year, the theme of the event was "Leadership," which the DICT chief emphasized as the spark in the department's efforts to cultivate an environment "where women stand as stalwarts of innovation and progress in ICT, STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and Mathematics), and beyond."

The ITU and its partners collaborate to inspire and motivate girls to pursue careers in ICT, aiming to narrow the gender gap in digital careers and opportunities.

International Girls in ICT Day is observed annually on the last Thursday of April, and this year, the celebration fell on April 25.

The goal is to motivate girls to pursue studies and careers in STEM, and other related fields, empowering them to fulfill their aspirations.

Furthermore, Uy underscored that "DICT proudly champions the advancement of girls in ICT through initiatives like the Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA) program."

"Under the stewardship of notable female leaders like Undersecretary Jocelle, Assistant Secretary Tess, and numerous directors, our strategies prioritize gender balance, ensuring that women thrive in ICT," Uy said.

Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development, DICT, and DIWA Role Model Jocelle Batapa-Sigue expressed her appreciation to the women leaders in ICT who have been mentoring young women and guiding them in exploring opportunities in the field.

Various internationally renowned personalities, both in-person and virtual, expressed their support for the event by delivering remarks on Girls in ICT.

Some of these are Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations Amina J. Mohammed; Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava; and United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González.

Additionally, individuals such as H.R.H. Princess Beatrice, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Deputy Director for Management Services at the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Honey Castro, Acting Mission Director at USAID Betty Chung, Executive Director of FEU Institute of Technology Rosanna Adao, Field Programs and Development Manager at W4.org Daisy Wachira, and ITU Generation Connect Asia and the Pacific Youth Envoy Karenina Yustika dedicated their time to express their support for Girls in ICT Day 2024.

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