CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in Northern Mindanao is rolling out digital services in remote communities through its Smart Villages and Smart Islands Initiative (SVSI).
The program focuses on providing internet access, digital skills, and online government and health services in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), with three pilot communities currently participating.
“The SVSI is an initiative, and its goal is about digital transformation. This concept was adopted from the ITU, or the International Telecommunications Union. The goal is to identify the GIDAs and create digital transformation in that community,” said DICT Misamis Occidental Provincial Officer Kenneth T. Asuncion.
Asuncion said the program is built on four pillars: improved broadband connectivity, affordability, digital skills, and digital services.
He added that digital transformation goes beyond installing connectivity and involves integrating digital tools into daily activities, livelihoods, and community systems, including health, education, and economic services.
DICT-10 has established pilot sites in Barangay Tamparan, Munai, Lanao del Norte; Barangay Dalingap, Clarin, Misamis Occidental; and Barangay Capihan, Libona, Bukidnon.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with local government units, national agencies, and private groups to expand ICT access beyond urban centers using a demand-driven and user-focused approach.
“Right now we are taking care of three communities, and as we study and progress in these areas, we would like to see what the best strategies are implemented in these communities so we can adopt and apply them to other communities,” Asuncion said.
Through SVSI, residents in remote areas can access online government platforms, such as eGov services, scholarship programs, and other forms of government assistance.
A major component of the initiative is telemedicine, which is implemented in partnership with M-Well and Huawei, with DICT providing internet connectivity. The setup allows residents to consult licensed doctors online and receive electronic prescriptions through M-Well clinics. This addresses limited access to healthcare in remote areas, enabling residents to seek professional medical advice without travelling long distances.
According to DICT-10, Barangay Dalingap in Clarin has received international recognition as a smart village model, with support from the local and provincial governments in sustaining the program.
As the pilot phase continues, DICT-10 plans to expand the smart village program to more GIDA communities across the region through continued collaboration with partner agencies and stakeholders. (JAKA/PIA-10)
