Duterte appoints secretary for new tech department

Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Rodolfo Salalima as secretary for the newly formed Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Salalima was previously the Chief Legal Counsel and Senior Advisor for Globe Telecom, serving as a consultant to the firm. He was also the Duterte’s law school classmate at San Beda College.

The new department will draft and implement ICT policies, overseeing broad developments in the country. It will roll out free internet in government and public spaces, according to the Unbox tech review website.

DICT will also collaborate with the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to teach ICT skills in schools.

Salalima is experienced in the ICT industry, fulfilling the requirement that DICT officials need at least seven years of experience in the industry.

He currently serves as the President of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operator; and Board Director of the Telecoms Infrastructure Corporation of the Philippines.

He started off his career in the industry in the Radio Communications of the Philippines and continued to International Communications Corporation (since renamed Bayantel) in high-ranking positions. Image from SunStar Philippines's youtube