The Philippines recently formed an alliance with Japan, seeking to fulfill its “mutual interests” in the field of information and communications technology.

To formally begin this alliance, the two nations – through the Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT) and Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications — signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Feb. 9.

DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo said this partnership would greatly benefit the Philippines, noting Japan’s digitally advanced policies.

“Malaki po ang maitutulong ng MOC na ito dahil ang Pilipinas ay matagal nang benepisyaryo ng Japan sa pamamagitan ng . Sinusuportahan nila ang digital agenda ng Pilipinas (This MOC will help us a lot because the Philippines has long been a beneficiary of Japan through JICA. They support the digital agenda of the Philippines),” said Lamentillo in a “Laging Handa” public briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Among the projects that will be fulfilled through this cooperation, according to Lamentillo, is the transition of government television network from analog to digital through the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcast Migration Program. The DICT official explained that this will improve the country's ability to deliver vital information, especially in times of calamity.

“The Philippines has also benefited from the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Center exercises. JICA also sent an expert to the Philippines to help improve our capacity in implementing plans and frameworks to improve the quality of our projects,” Lamentillo furthered in Filipino.

The MOC also covers the establishment of activities in the field of cybersecurity. Not only that, the DICT highlighted its key role in opening doors for opportunities in the “formation and facilitation” of joint ICT projects between the Philippines and Japan.

All of these are in line with the administration’s digital agenda, which was previously described by the DICT as a “national priority.”