DICT’s mission: PH Digital Transformation

  • 4 months ago
DICT’s mission: PH Digital Transformation

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy enumerates his department's mission in the Philippines' digital transformation and in guiding the country into the fourth Industrial Revolution. Uy says the DICT’s primary concern now is establishing connectivity in remote areas nationwide. Uy highlights the importance of raising public awareness on cybersecurity and online hygiene. He also advocates bringing integrity back to public service.

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Transcript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:05 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Prime Time to the Trinilia.
00:08 Today, we are honored to have Secretary Ivan Uy,
00:11 the head of the Department of Information and Communications
00:13 Technology, as our distinguished guest.
00:16 Join us as we delve into the latest digital advancement
00:18 and policies shaping our nation's future.
00:21 Please welcome Secretary Ivan Uy.
00:24 Sec, before we delve into the questions of how you are gearing
00:29 the Philippines into digital transformation
00:31 and how you would be helping our Kababayans more
00:34 into this facet, I think our Kababayans would like to know,
00:39 what is DICT for you?
00:42 Well, DICT is the agency that is tasked
00:49 with transforming the Philippines
00:53 and guiding it from the Third Industrial Revolution
00:58 to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
01:00 So can we categorically say, Sec,
01:03 that this is a difficult job?
01:06 Well, it's an evolution.
01:08 Actually, it's a revolution.
01:10 It's a revolution.
01:11 And with any revolution, it requires a lot of change
01:15 in structure, in organization, in policy, in attitude,
01:20 in culture, and across all sectors.
01:25 And today's technological revolution
01:28 is something that is immense, something
01:32 that is on a scale that is unprecedented,
01:35 and on a depth that has never been, I think,
01:39 tried in the past.
01:41 So it's a very, very challenging job.
01:45 Speaking of policies, Mr. Secretary,
01:49 digital transformation is part of the eight-point socioeconomic
01:54 agenda of our president.
01:56 As the head of the DICT, what is your digital vision?
02:02 What can we say that hasn't been done?
02:05 How can you transcend it more into the transformation
02:09 that you have visualized when you were seated as DICT
02:12 Secretary?
02:13 What we've seen that has been lacking
02:16 is, well, first, connectivity, especially in the remote areas.
02:21 We have adequate connectivity in the urban areas.
02:25 But remote areas-- I mean, we are an archipelago
02:28 with more than 7,000 islands.
02:30 So we need to reach the farthermost islands
02:34 and mountainous regions so that they are connected.
02:39 Because without connectivity, then those communities
02:42 are isolated.
02:43 And when they're isolated, they're
02:45 not part of the economic development of the country.
02:49 So once we connect, then we provide them
02:51 with tools in order to be productive,
02:56 whether these are designing e-commerce platforms,
03:00 providing them with telemedicine services,
03:03 incorporating digital payments, online accounts,
03:08 so that they become active members
03:11 of the economic community.
03:14 They can have financial inclusion into our society.
03:20 And overall, bridge the digital divide
03:26 by allowing them now to participate in our economy.
03:31 So your answers provide a deeper understanding
03:36 about strategic collaborations and partnerships.
03:40 [SPEAKING IN TAGALOG]
03:45 Because you said earlier, there is telemedicine,
03:49 there is e-commerce, bridging any digital divide that
03:55 may be there before you went in.
03:58 Sec, how can we help strategically
04:02 with collaborations and partnerships
04:04 with other national agencies?
04:07 I think first and foremost is you've
04:10 seen our launching of the e-gov ph super app.
04:14 This is first of its kind in the country.
04:19 And we're very happy that we're garnering, actually,
04:25 accolades and kudos on that app.
04:28 If you go to Apple Store or Google Play Store,
04:32 we're ranking about 4.6, 4.7 out of 5 stars.
04:37 So our citizens, our countrymen, are happy with that app.
04:42 And what does that app do?
04:44 That app actually consolidates and simplifies
04:48 government transactions by allowing the public now
04:52 to go to a single portal and be able to engage
04:57 the government, access to various government services,
05:01 whether you're talking about your national ID
05:04 in a digital ID format or accessing your social security
05:10 benefits, your field health, your driver's license,
05:17 and many more.
05:18 Now, this is a new app, so it's constantly
05:22 evolving as we bring in more agencies into the app
05:26 and as we build more functionalities of each agency.
05:29 Because some of those agencies, not all of their functions
05:33 are available in the app, so only some select functions that
05:37 are front-facing.
05:39 So we've tackled those as low-hanging fruits
05:43 and provided them already in the app.
05:45 Now, then we help those agencies develop more of their services
05:50 so that they can add more services
05:52 to their agencies in the app.
05:56 So it's improving the systems of each agency or each department,
06:02 but at the same time, it's also expanding,
06:04 including more and more agencies,
06:06 including local governments, into that ecosystem.
06:11 So this ecosystem foresees our vision of a government that
06:20 doesn't sleep, a 24 by 7 government that doesn't take
06:25 vacation leaves or sick leaves, doesn't go on a weekend,
06:31 doesn't go on lunch break.
06:32 So 24 by 7 governance.
06:34 And I think that's a significant improvement to what we currently
06:40 have now, where as soon as Friday comes in,
06:45 all government transactions just stops completely,
06:48 and you have the whole weekend doing nothing.
06:52 So this is how we're trying to do it.
06:55 And of course, we're trying to do it face by face,
06:59 incorporating more features into the app as we go along.
07:03 So coming soon will be our e-gov pay system.
07:08 So you can now do also electronic payments online.
07:11 Oh, that's wonderful.
07:12 And that will basically complete the transaction cycle.
07:18 Because once you do the payment, then you
07:20 have the e-government receipts that are issued.
07:23 So it provides better accountability,
07:26 provides transparency, less opportunities for corruption,
07:29 because there are lesser opportunities for people
07:32 to meet face to face for transactions.
07:37 The illicit ones happen.
07:39 So you cannot bribe the machine.
07:41 You cannot coerce the machine to do something.
07:46 Before you became the secretary of the DICTSEC,
07:50 who was Secretary Ivan Uy?
07:51 You are a lawyer by profession.
07:53 But I think behind the technocrat,
07:56 behind the expert with digitalization
08:00 or digital acumen, who is Secretary Ivan Uy?
08:04 A husband and a father.
08:06 [LAUGHS]
08:08 So well, I--
08:10 The best jobs.
08:11 Yes, the best and actually the most fulfilling jobs
08:16 in the world.
08:18 And so as a husband, I have a very supportive wife.
08:23 She's an architect by profession.
08:25 And she's a very caring person as a wife.
08:32 And very, very supportive of our common vision,
08:40 not just for our family, but also for my personal view
08:45 on how I can personally contribute to society,
08:52 to the improvement of life in general.
08:57 So I've always been very keen on technology,
09:04 even before I became a lawyer.
09:06 So I've always been amazed on how science and technology has
09:11 been game changing in many aspects.
09:15 I'm an avid science fiction reader.
09:20 And I've read so many books on science fiction.
09:23 And many of them came true.
09:26 Those that were science fiction before are now reality.
09:31 So those books gave me the inspiration,
09:35 gave me the imagination that things are possible
09:40 if you work hard and if you have a good motivation.
09:48 Then you can redirect or direct those technology
09:53 into something that is beneficial for society.
09:56 It was written in the stars already, Sek,
09:58 that you would be contributing to the ICT
10:02 sphere of our country.
10:04 Sek, hearing that story that you've said,
10:10 you understanding you like fiction,
10:13 now let's go to nonfiction.
10:16 Because I'm sure not everybody thought
10:19 that our cybersecurity would be in one way or another breached.
10:24 Because nobody knew that much before, technology-wise.
10:29 Sek, as a lawyer also, how would the ICP,
10:33 together with your legal acumen, help
10:36 safeguard the cybersecurity of everybody,
10:39 including our kababayans who are in remote areas?
10:42 Because they, too, also have information out in the public.
10:46 And they, too, need the privacy and the protection
10:49 that the ICT would be giving to everyone.
10:52 Cybersecurity, just like any security,
10:54 is everybody's responsibility.
10:56 So it cannot be placed on the shoulder of a single agency.
11:02 I mean, even physical security, you have the police officers,
11:06 you have the security guards.
11:08 But it's your responsibility that when you go home,
11:10 you lock your door.
11:11 You put locks there.
11:12 You put steel bars on your window.
11:17 So because no matter how good your security guards are,
11:22 how good your police officers are, if you yourself do not
11:25 practice security, then you are opening yourself
11:29 to unlawful access or unlawful threats.
11:38 So that's the same thing in cybersecurity.
11:41 So despite all our efforts in installing the best
11:45 firewalls, the best security software there,
11:49 and having law enforcement, training law enforcement
11:53 on cybersecurity, computer forensics, all of those,
11:57 we need to make the public aware of cyber hygiene practices.
12:04 What do you need to be aware?
12:06 Don't click on links that you don't know.
12:09 Don't answer your phone if these are from numbers that are not
12:12 in your contacts, because most likely these
12:16 are scammers who just want to get information from you.
12:20 If you're being offered something
12:25 that is too good to be true, then it is too good to be
12:29 true.
12:29 It's a scam.
12:30 So remember, there's nothing free in this world.
12:35 So if somebody is offering you something free,
12:37 be aware that there's something behind it.
12:41 So they're after your bank account.
12:45 They're after your e-wallet.
12:46 They're after your credentials, whatever,
12:50 because you are the target.
12:51 You're the product.
12:52 So it should be an awareness.
12:56 And we have conducted a lot of awareness campaigns.
13:02 We have not been lacking in putting out
13:05 to the public scam alerts.
13:09 Yep, there are people who always are motivated by some quick,
13:15 get-rich-quick schemes.
13:17 And that's what the scammers, that's
13:19 what the cyber criminals target-- greed,
13:22 the gullibility of the public in believing that something
13:27 can be had without much work.
13:29 Yes, moving into a more positive light,
13:34 the DICT has been helping a lot of our kababayans,
13:39 either in SMEs, startups, innovation hubs.
13:44 Please share to everybody, Mr. Secretary,
13:47 how has DICT really put little businesses--
13:53 well, not little, but those businesses
13:55 who need assistance--
13:57 into the map?
13:58 Because not everybody had the opportunity
14:00 before to be included as part of the roster
14:04 of those growing businesses.
14:05 And DICT has been one of those who were bullish enough
14:09 to put them out there.
14:12 So how did DICT thought of it?
14:15 How did your leadership foster it?
14:18 Walk us through, Mr. Secretary.
14:19 The MSMEs actually comprise a huge majority of our economy.
14:25 And they're the backbone of the economy.
14:27 So during COVID times, a lot of them
14:33 closed down, mainly because they were brick and mortar,
14:37 and with COVID, a lot had to go online.
14:42 So those who evolved and adopted and moved quickly online
14:48 were the ones that survived.
14:50 Those that did not evolve became extinct.
14:54 And so you saw a lot of established restaurants
15:01 just close down, because they were not
15:03 able to make the leap towards online presence.
15:08 So with that, the COVID actually triggered a huge move
15:16 towards the online environment.
15:18 And many of the MSMEs were able to do that.
15:23 However, at the cost, and the cost
15:26 was in their speed in moving to an online environment,
15:31 they forgot about cybersecurity.
15:35 Because that was the least of their worry.
15:37 Their worry was survival.
15:38 Yes.
15:39 Their worry was survival.
15:40 And that's what we're seeing today.
15:42 Because there's so much now that are online presence
15:45 without the cybersecurity framework or investment,
15:51 the cybercriminals are exploiting those vulnerabilities.
15:55 So that's where we're helping them also
15:57 in developing capabilities to secure their system.
16:01 However, we are working with other government agencies
16:06 to do a digital marketplace for MSMEs.
16:11 Of course, you already have the commercial ones
16:13 that are available out there.
16:15 But we're offering them an alternative
16:17 where there's a government-run digital marketplace, where
16:21 they can provide their products, their services online.
16:25 And the system will handle their logistics, their access
16:32 to financial credit and marketing, and so on.
16:39 These are currently being developed.
16:42 And we will be incorporating it in our e-gov PH app eventually.
16:48 So it's a more complicated process, but it's ongoing.
16:54 At the same time, we are doing a lot of connectivity
17:02 in the remote areas.
17:04 So we have a project called the Smart Village, Smart Island
17:08 project, which we are partnering with the ITU, International
17:13 Telecommunications Union.
17:14 So they've identified the Philippines
17:17 to be one of the pilot areas where they see
17:20 this to be a strong enabler.
17:23 And what this does is--
17:26 well, we're piloting it in Sakul Island,
17:28 which is a very remote island in southern Mindanao.
17:33 It's out of Zamboanga City going towards Basilan.
17:37 And so that island has a population of 14,000.
17:43 And they've never had any connectivity.
17:45 So zero connectivity, four barangays.
17:48 And so I traveled there, actually,
17:52 during my first three or four months in office.
17:57 So I traveled there by boat and then came down.
18:02 There are no roads.
18:03 So we have to move by habal-habal, a motorcycle,
18:09 this tiny, tiny inland.
18:12 And we installed the telecommunications equipment
18:16 there, Wi-Fi, internet.
18:20 And you can see the impact immediately
18:24 as soon as you provide them with the connectivity.
18:28 The whole place suddenly becomes a flurry of activity.
18:32 People become more engaged.
18:36 Because give you an example.
18:38 That island is populated by our indigenous people,
18:44 Yakans, Tausos.
18:47 And they produce beautiful hand-embroidered fabric
18:53 that can be used for either clothing or for table runners.
18:58 Beautiful.
18:59 The patterns are exquisite.
19:02 But they do not have access to market.
19:05 So what they do is these villages, old lady
19:10 will do their embroidery, and then
19:14 make maybe a few dozen a month.
19:17 Then what will happen is for that month,
19:21 they will load that inventory into a boat,
19:24 travel two hours, spend 500 pesos to Zamboanga City.
19:29 To try and sell it.
19:30 Try and sell it.
19:32 Put up a stall.
19:34 Try and sell it.
19:35 Or they have a buyer who can do a barter.
19:38 They will exchange it for corned beef, or eggs, or dilata,
19:42 or whatever that they need.
19:46 Then they take the 200 or 500 peso--
19:50 Profit.
19:52 Yeah.
19:53 Well, they still have to spend on the bank to go back.
19:57 So there's nothing much left.
20:00 And then they also use that opportunity
20:03 to buy load so that they can communicate
20:05 with their relatives while they are in Zamboanga City,
20:07 because that's where they have the signal.
20:10 Because once they go back to the islands,
20:12 they don't have the signal anymore.
20:14 So they spend the whole day there to do so.
20:18 And then they do their bank transactions there.
20:22 Sometimes several days.
20:23 They have to stay in the hotel because--
20:25 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
20:30 It's in the city.
20:31 Yeah.
20:31 So they do everything there.
20:33 Then they go back to their village.
20:35 Yes, sir.
20:36 Sir?
20:36 Now, when we provide--
20:38 Yes, sir.
20:39 When we provide the connectivity,
20:41 now they can do it online.
20:43 Yeah.
20:44 And so then they can now have a digital bank
20:50 account or an e-wallet.
20:53 So they can now deposit and withdraw digitally
20:59 without leaving the island, whereas in the past,
21:02 they have to go to the Zamboanga City
21:05 to go to the municipal rural bank
21:08 in order to withdraw cash and to deposit the cash.
21:12 Yeah.
21:13 So now it's online.
21:15 And the access to market, because this person,
21:18 in the past--
21:20 I mean, before the connectivity, can only
21:22 access the Zamboanga market.
21:24 Now, because of online, we teach them--
21:27 Nationwide.
21:27 Worldwide.
21:29 So we teach them digital entrepreneurship skills.
21:32 We teach them digital marketing skills
21:34 so they can showcase their product to buyers in Europe.
21:39 And the buyers in Europe see how they produce it
21:42 because they're online.
21:43 Yeah.
21:43 They can see into their webcam how it's handmade.
21:47 Yes.
21:47 Literally handmade.
21:48 So the prices that they get for their products
21:51 is multiplied 10 times.
21:54 And so this old lady that started off
21:59 in a wooden shanty all alone, I would
22:03 expect that two years later, three years later,
22:06 when I go back, she's probably staying
22:08 in a much better building, not working alone.
22:12 Most likely now, she has probably
22:14 invited all her neighbors to come and work for her
22:18 in doing all of those and producing much more.
22:22 And then those products can be exported directly
22:26 through our logistics providers because our logistics
22:29 providers can ship it for them internationally.
22:33 They go there and pick it up from the island
22:35 and then ship it out direct to Europe.
22:39 I'm really glad.
22:40 And I really hope that old lady would have her own bigger home,
22:44 her own staff, giving job creation also.
22:48 And speaking of job creation, Mr. Secretary,
22:51 how has DICT helped out our economy in terms of job
22:56 creation?
22:57 Because number one, that line, "Teach a man how to fish,"
23:01 that line has already transcended all of the generations.
23:06 We need to learn.
23:07 So how can we help our fellow Filipinos?
23:11 And with the story that you just shared with Nanay,
23:14 I think it's a good opportunity for DICT as the head
23:18 for you to share.
23:19 How did DICT revolutionize digital innovation
23:25 to more job creation?
23:27 My example earlier, so this old lady who was embroidering,
23:32 today is a digital entrepreneur.
23:34 Yes.
23:35 And instead of working by herself,
23:37 she now hires a bigger team.
23:40 So the entire neighborhood benefits from her alone.
23:44 And you multiply it now across all the villages
23:48 in those areas, and then you multiply it.
23:51 That is just one island.
23:53 We're doing it in many other islands all over the country.
23:56 So the scale in which we are transforming
24:01 those remote communities that have been isolated
24:05 from the economy and now are part not just
24:09 of our national economy, but the global economy,
24:12 because they become productive members of society.
24:16 On top of that, of course, aside from teaching
24:19 digital entrepreneurship and digital marketing skills,
24:23 there are many others.
24:24 We have our program for developing the gig economy.
24:31 So we're encouraging and training people
24:36 to be online content creators, graphics designers, sales
24:46 and marketing.
24:47 The live sellers also included.
24:49 Yes, a lot of them.
24:50 And a lot of them are earning a lot of money
24:54 doing online selling.
24:56 And these were nonexistent jobs before.
25:01 But now they are generating income.
25:05 So these are income that the government never saw coming.
25:11 Nobody ever saw them coming.
25:14 And now they're contributing to the economy.
25:17 So on top of the gig economy, we are fostering also
25:22 our startup communities.
25:25 So people who have more innovation, we identify them.
25:30 And then we partner them with investors
25:33 to see if they are willing to put up the investments.
25:36 We give them the exposure so that the people
25:41 will see these innovations.
25:44 And we support them with some funds,
25:47 initial funds for startups.
25:49 And of course, we're also helping
25:53 many of the tourist areas develop
25:56 into what we call digital nomad centers.
26:06 Digital nomad centers, meaning these
26:08 are foreigners who does not need a regular office to work.
26:15 They travel everywhere.
26:16 So long as there's connectivity, they can work.
26:19 My mind is blown how DICT has helped out
26:22 with the facets of tourism, with the facets of smoother
26:26 transactions with payments.
26:28 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
26:35 But DICT really has helped out with these problems.
26:41 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
26:47 As a secretary of the DICT this past 2 and 1/2 years.
26:51 And I'm pretty sure there is some tumbles.
26:54 Many.
26:55 Right?
26:55 Many.
26:56 So can you please share to our kababayans what they were
27:00 and how you and our DICT family helped you remedy it
27:05 for our entire nation?
27:08 Sad to say, one of the big challenges
27:12 is indifference, especially among government employees.
27:17 A lot of our government employees
27:20 have grown weary in the bureaucracy
27:24 that they have become jaded.
27:26 They've become jaded.
27:27 And so many of them have this attitude
27:32 that, oh, you've been there for six years.
27:34 What reforms do you want to do?
27:36 After six years, you're gone.
27:38 You're sitting somewhere else.
27:40 So we're just going to dribble you until you finish
27:47 your six-year term.
27:48 So that's sad.
27:50 That's sad.
27:51 And we really need to inculcate or re-inculcate the value
28:01 and the honor of public service.
28:03 Yes.
28:04 Because I think that has been lost
28:06 through many decades of bureaucratic red tape that
28:14 has jaded our civil servants.
28:18 So it's classic.
28:22 You hear stories about the public going to a government
28:26 office, [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
28:30 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
28:38 So we need to really do some values reorientation in order
28:50 to bring up that pride, that pride that as a public servant,
28:57 we are there not because we are kings, that we are lords,
29:02 but we are servants to the people.
29:04 We get our salary from the people.
29:06 And therefore, we owe it to the people
29:09 to give them the best service possible.
29:12 So that's one.
29:15 Second is dealing with petty little lords that want
29:24 to establish their little kingdoms.
29:27 When we introduce all of these reforms
29:33 and cut across the different government agencies
29:36 by helping them fulfill their mandate,
29:39 helping them computerize, you will
29:41 meet people who will resist.
29:46 Who want to stay.
29:47 Yeah, as is.
29:49 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
29:50 Yes.
29:50 And will tell us in very clear words, stay away.
29:56 We don't need that.
29:58 You stay away from our turf.
30:00 We know what we're doing, and we want to keep doing it this way.
30:05 So you do it.
30:06 If you want to do any change, any reforms, anything,
30:10 you do it somewhere else but not here.
30:12 OK.
30:13 Not here.
30:14 And we have dealt with many of those in many departments.
30:19 In many departments.
30:20 Of course, sometimes I get to talk with the department head
30:28 because the department heads are very clear on the importance
30:32 of digitalization, the importance of the directives
30:37 of the president that we need to move forward in this area
30:40 if we want our Philippines to be competitive worldwide.
30:45 So the department heads are very clear.
30:47 It's just when you go down to the mid-level executives
30:51 that you start encountering--
30:52 Resistance.
30:53 Yeah.
30:54 And the resistance can be quite fierce.
30:57 And so sometimes the heads of agencies
31:02 are not able to do much because these are either protected
31:10 by the civil service or many other issues that cover them.
31:16 So coming in the DICT, we only have so much time
31:24 to do a lot of things.
31:26 So instead of getting bogged down with organizations
31:30 that do not want change, we'd rather devote our time
31:34 to organizations that want--
31:36 That welcome it.
31:37 That welcome it.
31:38 And then let's tackle all of those first.
31:42 Then maybe on our fifth year or sixth year,
31:45 if we still have spare time, then maybe
31:49 if these agencies are finally convinced
31:52 that they'll be left behind if they don't come on board,
31:55 then maybe we can do something about them.
31:57 If not, then after our administration is gone,
32:00 then they will just be there on the sidelines.
32:03 They won't be part of the Philippine story,
32:08 of the Bagong Pilipinas story.
32:09 I've read a lot of articles reflecting what you have said
32:14 during your speeches, during your talks.
32:17 And there was one line that really got to me.
32:20 And I think any public servant leader who really would want
32:25 to stay in government and contribute heavily
32:29 on the advancement of the Philippines
32:31 would really emulate from this.
32:33 And your line was, "No Filipino should be left behind."
32:39 And I really love that because, [SPEAKING IN TAGALOG]
32:43 And with that line, Sec, please explain to our kababayans
32:48 or tell your story.
32:51 What is a lifelong lesson that you have learned and ruminated
32:59 during your tenure as a secretary this past 2 and 1/2
33:04 years?
33:04 [SPEAKING IN TAGALOG]
33:07 I've met a lot of heads of agencies
33:10 and [SPEAKING IN TAGALOG]
33:12 So stress.
33:13 But hearing the story about Nanay,
33:17 hearing about stories about job generation
33:20 really brought a positive light to the line
33:22 that you've always said, "No Filipino should be left behind."
33:28 What is one journey or one life lesson
33:30 that you would want to share with our viewers, subscribers,
33:35 and our kababayans?
33:37 Walk us through it again, Sec.
33:40 We all have to realize that we only have one life.
33:46 And it's a gift.
33:50 It's a blessing that has been given to us, an opportunity
33:54 to be alive, to be on this world.
33:58 And I think it should be a life well-lived.
34:03 And what do I mean by a life well-lived?
34:06 It's a life where you were able to make a positive difference
34:13 in the lives of all other people that you've touched.
34:16 In the end, when you say your goodbyes
34:25 and you finally are laid to rest, what will be left,
34:31 really, will be your memory, your memory in the lives
34:36 that you touch.
34:37 And I think those are, I think, the more meaningful way
34:49 of living your life.
34:54 Of course, you'd like to enjoy a little luxuries here and there.
34:59 But ultimately, I think your kababayans
35:09 will appreciate that you were a positive influence,
35:17 a positive change in their lives.
35:20 And this, I think, makes our mission a noble mission.
35:27 And I'm not just saying about me being
35:30 secretary in the department.
35:32 I'm talking about the teachers.
35:34 I'm talking about the nurses, doctors,
35:38 people who devote their lives in building up others,
35:43 in helping up others from whatever status or level
35:50 that they were born into.
35:54 So I think this is one way of making your life more
36:10 meaningful.
36:12 Because otherwise, what will be the difference
36:14 between our life and a life of an animal?
36:18 Agree.
36:20 You know, animals would be-- you eat, you drink,
36:24 you defecate, you eat, reproduce, then go back again.
36:33 It's a cycle.
36:34 It's a cycle.
36:35 So what differentiates us except if we can do much, much more?
36:42 Yes.
36:42 And we're given-- God has given us the intellect.
36:46 God has given us a soul.
36:49 What are you going to use that for?
36:51 What more can the Filipino people expect
36:55 from Secretary Ivan Uy, the DICT family,
36:58 and the department as a whole?
37:00 I think you can expect more hard work from us.
37:05 We have four years to go.
37:08 And there's so much still to be done.
37:11 I'm quite happy that in the first two years,
37:15 we were able to achieve quite a significant and dramatic
37:21 transformation of many areas in terms of connectivity,
37:28 in terms of the services to the public that
37:32 are being incorporated into these platforms,
37:36 in terms of job generation, in terms of inclusivity,
37:42 financial inclusivity, capacity building in training our people
37:50 to become productive members of the digital workforce,
37:55 to enhance each person's cybersecurity and data privacy
38:01 awareness, and of course, building up also
38:05 our infrastructure on cybersecurity
38:08 to make us more resilient to any potential threats that
38:16 are out there.
38:18 You know, technology is a double-edged sword.
38:21 It can be used for good.
38:23 It can be used for bad.
38:25 And so we need to be able to exploit everything
38:30 that technology can offer for good.
38:32 But at the same time, we need to be aware that threat actors
38:37 will use those same opportunities for evil.
38:41 And therefore, we need to be alert.
38:45 We need to be proactive.
38:47 And we need to ensure that on the government side,
38:51 we do our job in helping protect the citizenry.
38:55 But the citizens should also take the cudgels for themselves,
38:59 pick themselves.
39:01 And take personal responsibility for the security
39:05 not only of yourself, but of your loved ones, your family
39:08 members.
39:09 I see a lot of parents allowing their young children
39:14 to just go online, unsupervised.
39:17 And they post everything online, giving away
39:21 personal data of the family just because there
39:25 are apps there that allow them to make themselves beautiful
39:32 online, but actually is already capturing their biometrics.
39:37 And then asking for data like what's the name of your dog,
39:45 what's your favorite food, all of those things,
39:48 supposedly to create a profile for you,
39:50 but actually really is creating a profile so that they can now
39:53 go after your family because they now know this background.
39:59 A lot of houses have been burglarized.
40:02 Why?
40:03 Because during holidays, when you go out of town,
40:08 you allow your kids to post pictures that, oh,
40:12 we are now in Boracay, first day of a five-day trip in Boracay.
40:17 So, cybercriminals see that it's the first day of five days,
40:21 so let's check it out.
40:23 This is already here in this address.
40:25 So there's no one in the house.
40:28 So--
40:29 Easy target.
40:30 Easy target.
40:31 And you've just provided all the information.
40:35 Super easy.
40:37 It's given.
40:38 The information is given.
40:39 So, my advice is always, especially when the holidays come,
40:43 that you should post when you're already home.
40:46 Late post.
40:47 Yes, late post.
40:48 Don't post when you're not home because that's what the criminals
40:54 are watching, the housekeepers, so that they can enter.
40:56 But that's just a clear example that today,
41:01 privacy of data is very, very important.
41:04 And just because you feel that no one is missing from you
41:08 by posting or by sharing your information,
41:13 you're actually doing a lot.
41:15 I've seen some who take selfies at home.
41:21 Selfies at home, the background has a lot of private information
41:28 that shouldn't be released.
41:30 But because they thought that they're the only ones getting it,
41:33 but there's a lot of other data.
41:37 The one who took the picture, the one behind is the bodyguard.
41:41 So awareness is really key, Zech.
41:45 Yes.
41:46 Awareness, self-awareness, and actually self-discipline.
41:50 Yes.
41:51 Self-discipline.
41:52 Today, in the past, data is not that significant
41:58 because they're non-digital.
42:00 So it takes a great effort to get your information.
42:04 In the past, what criminals did was to mix up your garbage.
42:08 They would look for your letters, your bills,
42:11 credit cards, to see what's in there.
42:15 Now, you don't need to because you're already giving it away.
42:18 Everything's online.
42:19 Yes, you're giving it online.
42:21 So be more aware of that.
42:24 And I think that's where we need to do.
42:27 So each person is ultimately responsible for your own safety.
42:32 Your own safety.
42:35 And government can only do so much.
42:37 But we will still continue to do as much as we can.
42:40 Mr. Secretary, I think the accomplishments that you have garnered
42:44 over the two years and what the ICT has re-established again,
42:48 that kind of connectivity, not only with lines, cables,
42:53 and stuff like that, but you really connect our people
42:55 to not the local industries, the international industries,
42:59 and that makes it better.
43:02 That makes it significant in not only our economy,
43:05 but in betterment.
43:07 So with that, Mr. Secretary, thank you very much
43:09 for guesting in our show.
43:11 And we really hope that we get to guest you again.
43:14 And next month is IT month.
43:18 We're going to look forward to that, Mr. Secretary.
43:21 And I wish everybody a good day.
43:23 And thank you for watching Prime Time with Attorney Liga.
43:26 (Music)

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