Deaf participants look at the sign language interpreter as Ms. Gian De Veyra, IECD Chief explains the rules.
Deaf participants look at the sign language interpreter as Ms. Gian De Veyra, IECD Chief explains the rules.

The National Council on Disability Affairs in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Youth Commission (NYC), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) spearheaded the 2023 National IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities. This is a two-day event that started today (June 26) until June 27. The aim of this activity is to select four students who will represent the Philippines in the 2023 Global IT Challenge in Abu Dhabi.

A total of 30 students are competing for the slots. They were from 16 Local Government Units who conducted the Local IT Challenge. The 16 participating LGUs are the following:

  1. Carmona, Cavite
  2. San Fernando, La Union
  3. Quezon, Isabela
  4. Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur
  5. Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur
  6. San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur
  7. Manila City, NCR
  8. Alaminos, Pangasinan
  9. Bayambang, Pangasinan
  10. Rosales, Pangasinan
  11. Urdaneta, Pangasinan
  12. Cabarroguis, Quirino
  13. Saguday, Quirino
  14. Odiongan, Romblon
  15. Romblon, Romblon
  16. San Jose, Dinagat Islands

The awarding is set to be on June 28.

For the record, the Philippine participation since 2012 has won major awards year after year. In the GITC 2022, the country garnered 5 Gold medals and 3 Bronze medals.