Twenty-five Mankayan locals are now poised to start their career journey in the digital world after completing the Department of Information and Communication Technology’s (DICT) DigitalJobsPh Technical Training Program.
Formerly known as the Rural Impact Sourcing Technical Training (RISTT) Program, DigitalJobsPh is one of the flagship programs of DICT which aims to provide digital opportunities and promote online freelancing in the countryside. Covered in the program are the vulnerable sectors such as the PWDs, out-of-school youths, homestay moms, among others.
The trainees underwent eight days of face-to-face lecture on virtual assistance skills; primarily focused on email and calendar management, transcribing, client management and basic social media marketing. They also embarked on an actual 21-day digital marketing campaign as an online freelancer that will help them increase their employability and look for potential clients.
Feeling blessed after completing the training, 34-year-old housewife Janelyn Rodriguez sees the training as a big opportunity for someone without a college degree like her, to earn an honest living from home.
“Makakapagbigay po ito syempre ng additional income sa family ko at para rin po sa sarili ko itong training. Nadagdagan yung skills at kaalaman ko na kahit hindi ako degree holder, yung self-confidence ko na maki-compete sa digital world ay na-develop. At pwede ko ring ituro ang mga natutunan ko sa mga kapamilya ko at sa ibang mga nangangailangan,” Rodriguez said in her testimonial during their graduation ceremony at the Mankayan Municipal Hall.
Digital freelance expert Vida Medina Lim – born and raised in Lepanto and a proud graduate of Lepanto elementary and high schools – facilitated the training as her way of giving back to Mankayan.
“The digital revolution has provided me with infinite opportunities. I applied as a resource person for this DICT program for Mankayan because I wanted to share the same opportunities to my “kailyan” as well”, added Lim.
Mankayan Mayor Frenzel Ayong believes that besides farming and mining, the digital revolution is the next wave of prosperity for the municipality of Mankayan.
“It’s best that we forged this connection with the DICT in bringing this project to our municipality. With the help of our partners; Far Southeast Gold Resources Inc. and the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company, I’m sure this program will help more of our constituents”, Mayor Ayong remarked.
By: Butch S.B. Mendizabal Jr.
