Capacitating elderly with tech knowledge possible, says DICT exec 

CYBER LITERACY. Officials and local residents of Barangay Dagdag, Sagada, Mountain Province participate in the Basic information and communications technology training conducted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology – Cordillera Administrative Region in Mountain Province in October 2024. Jing Nino of the DICT-CAR , in an online briefing on Wednesday (Nov. 20, 2024) said they include senior citizens in ICT training to equip them of the technological know-how and protect the sector from being victimized by fraudsters online. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of PIA Mountain Province

BAGUIO CITY — Teaching senior citizens about technology and the internet is challenging but possible, an official of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in the Cordillera said Wednesday.

Enabling the sector to become familiar with the use of technological innovations would provide them opportunities to have a source of livelihood even at an advanced age, said Jing Nino, of the DICT-CAR Information Communications Technology (ICT) Literacy and Competency division,  in a forum aired over social media.

“It’s difficult. It takes a lot of patience because most of them are first-time computer users but, slowly, they will grasp it),” he said.

Senior citizens are taught what a computer is, how to turn it on, how to access the internet, how to use digital payment, and how not to be victimized by fraudulent sites or persons.

“We do not only teach them how to use it but also how not be a victim of fraud because they are among the vulnerable groups of people,” Nino said.

Nino pointed out that for senior citizens working in the government, being familiar with computers is a productivity tool since they could easily get information using search engines like Google, worksheets, and Microsoft Word.

For those who are no longer working and are just staying home, technological know-how will allow them to find anything they want to know online.

“For some, basic computer use is sufficient but there are those who aspire to have digital careers and thus are taught more advanced lessons,” Nino said.

DICT has a digital academy program where individuals aspiring to have a career in ICT can enroll.

Reynaldo Sy, DICT-Cordillera director, said in the same press conference, that they have transformation hubs where any group could request ICT lectures or workshops for free.
He disclosed that a senior citizen, who attended one of their trainings in 2023, is now working as a virtual assistant. (PNA)