Author: Aida C. Agad

Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1621355380513

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Dec 13 (PIA) -- The Community e-Center (CeC) of M’lang town in Cotabato province received a national award for introducing innovations in digital literacy in local governance.

The local government unit received the citation as one of 2012 Community e-Center innovators in a ceremony held earlier this month in Davao City.

M’lang information Officer Mary Ann Cortado told the Philippine Information Agency here that the national award was given by the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communication Technology Office (DOST ICTO) and the National Computer Center (NCC).

Cortado said the CeC Innovators award cited the LGU’s pioneering efforts to introduce new and unique services to the residents of the community. These innovations has opened up more opportunities for the residents, she said.

All over the country, the municipality of M’lang has the highest number of women trained in the aspect of digital literacy, the LGU reported.

Cortado who managed the M’lang CEC, said she dedicates the award to the town’s women sector while also noting the support of Mayor Lito Piňol to the program.

LGU-Mlang partners with the National Computer Center-Field Operations Office (NCC-FOO), the leading agency, in undertaking ICT information drives in barangays and conduct of digital literacy training sessions for the women and students.

A CeC is a self-sustaining shared facility providing affordable access to ICT-enabled services and relevant content.

Its goal is to bridge the digital divide and provide access to information and communication services as contained in the Philippine Digital Strategy 2011-2016.

The Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) is the government’s lead agency on ICT related matters. The thrusts of the agency are ICT Industry Development, eGovernment, ICT policy development, Internet for all, and Cybersecurity. (ACAgad PIA12)