CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Luzon urged the public to maximize the potentials of digital technology and innovation through the Touchpoint Business Conference.
In her welcome message, DTI OIC-Regional Director Leonila Baluyut cited the importance of information and communication technology in improving transparency and accountability in public service.
“Technology has already improved access to information by public offices. Thus, enabling to decide faster and better. Geotagging of public works have not only improved accountability, it has also enhanced public participation in public works initiatives,” she said.
However, Baluyut reminded the public to still exercise responsible use of these technologies despite their benefits.
“While we can cite a multitude of benefits from innovation and technology, we still have to be careful. We should have guide post that we are not abusing these technological tools to abuse our posts nor disadvantage our clients. We should be careful to direct the use of technology to achieve better normal,” the director cited.
Meanwhile, DTI Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona stressed the great potential of technology use by the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in rebuilding and growing their business even amidst the pandemic.
“We count on technology to tide us through difficult situations this pandemic has brought us to. In the new and better normal, we must maximize information technology and innovations that we suddenly learn to use—the apps, the webinars, the online payment modes, and many more,” she said.
The conference included discussions on Industry 4.0 and its Impact to Central Luzon Industries; Interventions to Improve Connectivity; Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap; and Avoiding Fraud from Online Transactions.
About 400 participants composed of government officials, academe, MSMEs, business chambers, consumer organizations and students took part in the online event.