By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MANILA — The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) hosted on Monday (Nov. 4) the 2024 Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) with the theme: “Tech for All, by All”, here at the historic Manila Hotel.
During the opening ceremonies, NCDA Executive Director III Glenda D. Relova acknowledged the presence of DSWD, DICT, and the officers and organizers of the 2024 GITC.
Relova said that the 2024 GITC will be the manifesto of the best and the brightest in the IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities.
Through policies and programs, the opportunities are given to the 193 competitors youth with disabilities in 15 countries.
She expressed the hope that the 2024 GITC will be a “huge success”.
The 193 participants came from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines
Il-Young Lee, Vice President of RI (Rehabilitation International) Korea, said that he is excited to see all the 193 participants from 16 countries gathered here in Manila, Philippines.
Young Lee cited “it is really the international competition here today.”
He was born in 1945 and it was during the Korean War.
He recalled that Ramon Magsaysay was the Philippine President then at the age of 47.
Lee remembered that Magsaysay died in 1957 and the award was restored in 1958.
He reminisced that the GNP (Gross National Product) of the Philippines then was 10 times more than that of Korea.
He expressed the hope that LG Electronics will progress and help the GITC.
Atty. Emmeline A. Villar, Undersecretary Alternative Representative for NCDA, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said that on behalf of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, “it is an honor to welcome you to the 2024 GITC.”
“It is a platform to promote global cooperation and collaboration,” she added.
Villar said that the Philippines is honored to host the 2024 GITC, which gathered 193 participants from 16 countries.
She added that the Philippines is honored to host the 2024 GITC, which gathered 193 participants from 16 countries.
She stressed that the GITC is a unique platform for youth with disabilities to demonstrate their skills in information technology, foster global cooperation, and promote inclusivity.
In a press conference, Joon Oh said that the GITC started in Vietnam, adding that it is not only a competition but a venue by which the knowledge and skills of the youth with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific Region are highlighted and recognized.
Oh stressed that the participants said that the competition changed their lives.
Relova said that the winners in the competition have been gainfully employed as a result of their achievements in the challenge contest.
“Throughout the year, we have been giving the process to be institutionalized in the 16 countries or throughout the Asia-Pacific countries,” Oh said.
The AI (Artificial Intelligence) app application and AI-generated information is also included in the competition.
Relova said “this year, it is the opportunity of the Philippines to host the 2024 GITC.”
The Microsoft Technology, E-commerce platform, together with the AI Technology, will also be used in the near future.
The hosts and sponsors of the 2024 GITC are the GITC Organizing Committee, the Ministry of Health of Korea, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Department of Foreign Affairs, PIA, PLDT and Smart, the City of Manila, Huawei Philippines, Manila Hotel, among others.
