july18.2015Lawmaker bats for free ICT courses in State colleges

 

JULY 18, 2015

NR # 3899

Lawmaker bats for free ICT courses in State colleges A lawmaker is pushing for the approval of a measure providing for free information and communications technology courses in State Colleges and Universities (SUCs). Rep. Scott Davies S. anete (! rd District" #as$ate) has filed %ouse &ill ''" which aims to entice younger *ilipinos" especially the underprivileged" to choose +nformation ,echnology (+,) and &usiness -rocess #anagement (&-#) industry as their field of endeavor. +n order to sustain growth in +, and &-# industry" there is a need to e/uip more *ilipinos with wi th ad ade/u e/uat atee sk skill illss ge gear ared ed tow towar ards ds em emplo ploym ymen entt in the indu industr stry. y. &y prior prioriti iti0i 0ing ng the the marginali0ed" the State will not only sustain growth in the industry $ut also lend a helping hand to the underprivileged citi0ens"1 anete said. +n the past years" anete said the country has e2per e2perienced ienced e2pone e2ponent nt growth in the +, and &-# industry. Some 3'4 $illion has $een generated $y the industry in the past three years"1 anete said. ,he growth is due to the relatively low cost of $usiness in the -hilippines and the *ilipino5s linguistic skills" particularly in 6nglish. #ore and m more ore foreign investors are flocking the country esta$lishing +, and &-# centers which are more popularly known as call center"1 anete said. ,he +, and &-# industry has received a ma7or $oost as young *ilipinos $ecame attracted to the relatively relatively high salarie salariess offer offered ed $y call center centers. s. ,his has had the eff effect ect of loweri lowering ng the country5s unemployment rate"1 anete said. anete said the employment of people in call centers have $een seen as a way towards alleviation from poverty as it offers highly competitive salaries compared to other availa$le 7o$s. %owever" as the proliferation of call centers continues" there is an accompanying need for  sustaina$ility as neigh$oring countries are catching up making the competition high"1 he said. Under the propose proposed d *ree +nform +nformation ation and Commu Communicati nications ons Colleg Collegee 6ducat 6ducation ion Act of  48'"1 /ualified students intending to enroll or already enrolled in +C, course shall $e free from  payment of tuition and other school fees and shall $e entitled to other $enefits. *unding for pro7ect shall $e sourced out from the gross annual revenues of the -hilipp -hilippine ine Charity Sweepstakes 9ffice (-CS9) and in a special fund to $e included in the annual :eneral Appropriations *und (:AA) thereafter. anete said the Constitution mandates that the sustained development of a reservoir of  national talents consisting of *ilipino scientists" entrepreneurs" professionals" managers" high; level technical manpower and skilled workers and craftsmen in all fields shall $e promoted $y the State. (!4) lvc