News Details

PPP Tech Center Transforms Life of Young Masbate Graduate

NPO

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July 6, 2025

LEGAZPI CITY – For 23-year-old Princess Nicole Recto of Barangay Malubi in Aroroy, Masbate, finding a decent job after graduation once seemed like a distant dream. But thanks to a public-private partnership (PPP)-initiated Digital Transformation Center (DTC), that dream is now her reality.

A fresh graduate with a degree in Information Systems from the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology, Recto faced months of job hunting with little success—until a friend encouraged her to apply as a digital English teacher at the DTC, formerly known as Tech4Ed.

“This opportunity changed my life,” she said. “As fresh graduates, we feel anxious about job prospects. Now, I help support my family and contribute to our daily expenses.”

Recto is now thriving as an online English teacher—a role she never imagined she’d take on, especially from a remote province like Masbate.

Bridging Rural Gaps Through Digital Empowerment

The Digital Transformation Center in Aroroy is the product of a partnership between the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and mining firms Filminera Resource Corp. and Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corp. (PGPRC).

“Our goal is to create digital jobs right in the countryside,” said Zycar Ong, DICT-Masbate Provincial Officer. “With internet access and training, rural communities can compete globally in the digital workforce—without leaving their homes.”

Initially launched during the pandemic to support displaced workers in eight barangays near the mining site, the center now operates two hubs with nearly 60 computer seats, and offers specialized training in virtual assistant services, English teaching, and freelancing skills.

The initiative has already helped over 200 individuals gain digital skills and secure remote jobs with international clients—from Vietnam and South Korea to China.

Keeping Talent Local, Empowering Families

For Recto, staying in Masbate while earning a stable income is a blessing.

“This job lets me stay close to home and my family. It gives me stability without having to work overseas or relocate,” she said.

Her routine is flexible, often working weekends and choosing her days off. With strong support from the center—including access to electricity, internet, and upskilling—she’s thriving professionally in a once-unreachable career path.

“I’m satisfied. It’s difficult to find jobs now, but this one meets my financial needs and gives me peace of mind.”

Public-Private Synergy That Works

According to PGPRC’s Social Development Management Superintendent Noelle Nazareno, the collaboration goes beyond technology—it builds a sustainable community-based workforce.

“We started with just 10 computers. Now, we're preparing them to form a cooperative. The success is not just in the jobs—it’s in creating lasting structures for economic empowerment.”

The program’s success led to the center being awarded Most Outstanding Tech4Ed Center in the Region in January, now proudly rebranded as a DICT-accredited Digital Transformation Center.

For Ong and the DICT, the model offers a clear message: with the right support, technology, and collaboration, rural youth like Princess Nicole can unlock their full potential—without ever leaving home.

NPO News Team (PNA-PR)