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‘VisMin Speaks’ offers answers for New Normal obstacles.

The VisMin Speaks series aims to publish ideas of thought leaders in the Visayas and Mindanao. The project seeks to solicit and spread viewpoints about the current crisis. The first three posts focuses on “Digital Transformation of VisMin business in the New Normal.” 

The first post will feature the new regional director of the Department of Information, Communition, and Technology (DICT) Visayas Cluster 2.

Frederick “Rik” Dela Casa Amores.

They say New Normal policies of staying and working from home hastened the need for businesses to go digital. But what is your assessment of the digital transformation in the region and for the Visayas and Mindanao so far?

The New Normal has indeed accelerated the digital transformation in the different sectors of the community both in the private and public sector.  While there have been big strides in digital transformation such as the emergence of more services and businesses that are digital in nature, there are still much to be done in terms of digital transformation. There are still many businesses which still need to transform and fully embrace the new digital norms. This is particularly true of MSMEs. While many government offices have made use of ICT in their operations, many have yet to fully digitally transform.

Would VisMin, or CV at least, be ready with the Internet requirements when K-12 classes start in October?

Over the years, strides have been made in terms of building our infrastructure. But there are still areas that are not yet connected. The DICT has a number of initiatives to address this such as the Free Wifi project and the establishment of a government network.

What are your thoughts on digital transformation that serve as a roadmap for businesses during this New Normal for Central Visayas? For Visayas and Mindanao?

The ultimate goal of any digital transformation is to make the organization more efficient in terms of its processes and thus provide better service to its clients.  The New Normal has forced many businesses to think of how they can reach their market aside from their traditional avenues of service delivery. A very good example is how traditional bricks and mortar stores have established their online presence through various digital platforms.  The challenge really for most organizations is how to reinvent themselves and adopt new paradigms in service delivery for their organizations be it a business or a government office.

What are the obstacles they will need to hurdle? How shall we overcome them?

There are a number of hurdles that I see as challenges to digital transformation. These are the in the following areas:

Policy

There are still many rules and regulations that need to be updated to keep up with the times. I am particularly referring to laws or rules that will be impacted by the application of technology.  For example, some government transaction still require paper-based documents to be generated as there is no provision in law to allow it to be digital. The good news is that policies are catching up. The recent issuances on the use of   PKI to digitally sign documents and the GPPB issuance on digitally submitting bids in government procurement are good examples of how these policy issues are addressed.

Costs

There is a perception that digital transformation is expensive. The reality is, it will be more expensive in the long term if a business or organization does not digitally transform.

Awareness

Many people do not understand what digital transformation is about. There should be more initiatives to mainstream this in our communities.

What are the plans of DICT in hastening digital transformation in Central Visayas and the rest of VisMin?

The DICT is hastening digital transformation through the following:

• Development of enabling policies that will support and promote digital transformation.
• Programs that will support the build-up of needed infrastructure.
• Provisioning of connectivity to citizens.
• Strengthening human capital needed for digital transformation.

Who is Rik Amores?

Rik Amores started 2002 in government as an Information Systems Analyst at the then National Computer Center.