DICT’s SPARK brings global employment opportunities without leaving communities
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — More Dinagatnons are expected to earn additional income and access online and global employment opportunities without leaving their communities through the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) technical training on Strengthening the Philippine Workforce through Adaptive and Responsive Digital Knowledge (SPARK).
The program, implemented in partnership with the provincial government of Dinagat Islands and the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PPESO), equips participants with industry-relevant digital skills for virtual work, freelancing, and other technology-enabled careers. The initiative advances President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda by creating jobs, accelerating digital transformation, strengthening the country’s digital workforce, and expanding economic opportunities through innovation and technology.
In a message delivered on behalf of DICT Caraga Regional Director Mario P. Cuñado, Engineer Lawrence P. Salang, chief of the Technical Operations Division, said the agency remains committed to preparing Filipinos to become globally competitive professionals in the digital economy.
“Through the program on SPARK, we equip Filipinos with industry-relevant skills that prepare them for virtual work, freelancing, and other technology-enabled careers,” Salang said.
He shared that the program is already producing tangible results in Caraga, with graduates from previous SPARK training batches securing virtual jobs with clients across the Philippines and overseas while continuing to live with their families in their hometowns.
“Their success proves that with the right skills and determination, opportunities are no longer limited by location,” he added.
Among the 27 scholars is Jairwin C. Timbal, a 30-year-old information technology graduate currently working at the Provincial Governor’s Office of Dinagat Islands, who views the training as a pathway to improve his family’s income while remaining in the province.
“This program will not only help me earn additional income but also provide me with additional skills. It is convenient to do online work if you have the right skills,” Timbal said, thanking the provincial government of Dinagat Islands and DICT for providing opportunities for aspiring digital professionals.
By enabling Filipinos to access high-value online jobs from their own communities, the SPARK program supports the Marcos administration’s priority of building a future-ready workforce, generating sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring that the benefits of the digital economy reach even geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
DICT expressed confidence that the new batch of SPARK scholars will become part of Caraga’s growing digital workforce, contributing to higher household incomes, stronger local economies, and a digitally empowered province where no one is left behind. (NLCM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
