Butuan City strengthens digital workforce with DICT’s SPARK
By Mariesh F. Celedeña
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — With more Filipinos opting to work from the comfort of their homes rather than commuting daily and battling traffic, the digital economy is now one of the country’s growing sectors.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that in 2024, the Philippine digital economy was valued at P2.25 trillion, an increase from P2.09 trillion in 2023.
Recognizing the vast potential of online employment, the city government of Butuan, through the City Education Development Department (CEDD), partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Caraga to strengthen the city’s digital workforce through the program on Strengthening the Philippine Workforce through Adaptive and Responsive Digital Knowledge (SPARK).
According to DICT, in Butuan City, a total of 21 scholars have completed the General Virtual Assistance Training 2.0 of the SPARK program. The scholars had undergone a 20-day hybrid training program covering more than 14 modules designed to enhance their competencies in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools, social media management, advanced administrative tasks, and client prospecting. The training aimed to equip participants with essential skills for aspiring virtual assistants, including strategies for securing legitimate online employment.
Kate Russel Militante, one of the scholars from Barangay Villa Kananga, was able to secure employment during the training period itself. She emphasized the value of hands-on exposure to actual tools used in remote work. “The training really prepared me for the actual job. Chila Cutamora, our trainer, introduced us to tools that are very useful, which boosted our confidence that we could perform the tasks. She also enlightened us on how to identify legitimate work offers.”
Militante shared that she is now working 40 hours per week as an administrative virtual assistant for a private company based in Kansas, United States, earning $5 per hour.
One of the program’s key modules focused on agency profile creation and client prospecting. Through this module, five scholars were able to secure employment even before completing the program. Collectively, these scholars generated a total income of P215,015 prior to their graduation on January 15.
To date, more than 50 scholars across Agusan del Norte have benefited from the DICT’s SPARK program as the department continues to collaborate with other local government units to further expand and strengthen the digital workforce in the region.
SPARKS is formerly known as the DICT’s “digitaljobsPH” program, which aligns with the Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act that involves upskilling and reskilling the Filipino workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy. (MFC, PIA Caraga, with a report from CEDD)
