Considered as the biggest gathering of champions of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry in the Philippines, the 8th National ICT Summit is set to be held in Eastern Visayas, more specifically in Palo, Leyte and is expected to join together both public and private sectors from the IT and BPO industries on November 10 to 11, 2016 – this is according to the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP).
It can be remembered that almost three years ago, Region VIII was hit by one of the most devastating typhoons in the world, Haiyan, and it left several of its provinces in ruins. However, just last year, new confident investments started pouring in – a rather astonishing advance which gave a glimpse of hope not only for the locals but also for aspiring businessmen.
The renewed trust of investors perhaps gave the region and the entire Visayas a label of exemplary performance that reflected a great potential for further development of business opportunities in both the ICT and BPO industries.
Although this will be Leyte’s first time to host the National ICT Summit, the organizers, headed by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 8 Director Edgardo Esperancilla and DOST-Leyte Director John Glenn Ocaña, are proud and confident that the ICT industry thrives and carries a great potential for the region, as represented by the booming ICT Park located in the town of Palo, just 12 kilometers away from the capital city, Tacloban.
The Regional Information and Communications Technology Committee – Eastern Visayas Federation for Information Technology (RICTC-EVFIT) will host the summit with the theme,
“Acceler8 Region 8 thru the Digital Economy”
This year’s theme is a significant one especially for the region since it highlights not only the renewed dynamism of the business community but also the resiliency of the people of Eastern Visayas even after the grave devastation of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
In fact, one of the topics of the summit will deal on business continuity and resiliency, an answer to the demand of an efficient and informative take on how business can thrive and continue to deliver services even after a tragic disruption.
One of the goals of the said occasion is to actively generate and invite more investments to the information and communication technology sectors in the countryside.
Aside from that, the summit could also solve issues of underemployment and cater to the creation of more job opportunities especially in regions outside the central business capitals of the country.
More specific objectives also target to discuss recent industry trends and development, two of the resources that are necessary to understand the challenges that these sectors face in the field. In addition, delegates will also have the opportunity to learn about ICT development tools, especially for participants from local government units and related agencies.
According to the organizers, the summit will revolve around these major topics:
- A talk on creating “competitive cities”
- Exploration of affordable and innovative options that could benefit the community
- Impact sourcing and the development of countryside outsourcing
- Discussions that will center on resiliency and business continuity
- Internet for agriculture and business environment
Presentations and facilitated discussions will aim to encourage and empower communities in the countryside to look at their workforce as equally competitive as those in central Philippine cities.
In addition, an informative forum on recent innovations will be one of the highlights of the summit, educating participants of more affordable and ground-breaking business options that they can choose from.
Specific events and facilitated activities will also be held to fully realize the gathering’s many objectives:
1. 5th eGOV Awards
The eGOV Awards will highlight the achievements of the local government units and will recognize exemplary services and performance of officials from municipalities, cities and provinces.
The award body will look at how the concerned agencies and government units helped empower the citizens as well as the business sectors through integrating ICT in their programs and services.
Award categories are, Best in eGov Customer Empowerment (G2C) Award and Best in eGov Business Empowerment (G2B) Award.
2. Presentation of the Philippine IT-BPM Roadmap 2022
This will highlight the NICP Targets for the year 2022 with the goals of enhancing the knowledge of the region’s digital businesses for affordable and more innovative options in the creation of an ideally competitive city.
3. Hack the Climate
This event is a 24-hour long hackathon and its primary goal is for developers to create solutions that will address climate change as well as issues concerning the environment.
NICP President Wilfredo Sa-a Jr. in an interview expressed that aside from Cebu, other provincial areas in the Visayas, have established themselves as IT-BPO centers. Therefore, this status can attract investments in the ICT and BPO industries and guide in the creation of more jobs for the locals.
Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, executive director of Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for ICT added that there is a need to create more opportunities in other parts of the Visayas, following Cebu as a “model” for ICT and BPO industry development.
The organizers are expecting approximately 600 delegates that will include members of the academe, officials in the industry as well as government and private sectors among others.
The success of the said summit is anticipated to facilitate in the efforts of advancing and moving on from the tragedy that cause economic and financial decline in the entire Eastern Visayas.
CONTACT DETAILS:
To register online and join the 8th Annual ICT Summit, visit http://www.nicp.org.ph/ICTsummit
For more information, inquiries and sponsorship, you may contact:
Mr. Rolando Sulla
Local Event Secretariat
Phone #: 09753963794 or
Email Address: sulla.masters@gmail.com
Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue,
8th NICP ICT Summit Program Management Committee Chair
Phone #: 0922-872-1447
Email Address: nicp2010@gmail.com
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