by admin | Sep 6, 2017 | Business, National News
MAKATI—There is a way to make artificial intelligence (AI) work for the sector of the business process outsourcing (BPO), amidst threats that this technology posts on our major services industry, the country’s trade chief said.
A product of the fast pace changes in technology, AI has presented itself more than just a new technology but as a threat to the current employees servicing the service export industry and the BPO, including the contact centers.
“Let us retool and reposition the nature of the current jobs in the industry,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, in the course of pessimistic prediction that AI could potentially diminish 45 to 50% of the approximately 1.2 million Filipino employees of the BPO industry.
Sec. Lopez cited these possible solutions coming from his recent collaboration with Dr. Dado Banatao, a renowned Filipino technology entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley, in order to minimize the impact of AI on job displacements. Together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) and the Unite States Agency for International Development (USAID), the group is currently working on building an inclusive, innovation ecosystem (government-academe-industry network) that will infuse science and technology, and innovation in industries including agriculture and services.
The AI technology enables computers to provide answers or solutions to problems raised in contact center transactions. Through programming, and deep learning technology, several databases are processed at faster speed and the computer processors are able to respond and recommend actions to callers.
“We need to train affected BPO employees and strategically orient them on the emerging technology requirements of the industry that will enable them to continuously improve job performance. In other words, making use of technology in their jobs rather than being displaced by it,” said Sec. Lopez.
“In simpler terms, we will endeavor to make this new technology work for them,” he added.
The trade chief said that intensive education and training programs for those in the industry should be developed soon by the academe, government and industry innovation ecosystem to ensure least manpower displacement.
He also underscored the need to develop an inclusive, innovation-led industrial ecosystem that will upgrade the competitiveness of the Philippine core sectors, including the services sector, in a bid to improve productivity, output generation. This is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s agenda to build competitive industries that will generate more jobs and income, reduce inequality and give a more comfortable life for every Filipino, according to Sec. Lopez.
DTI and DOST will lead the convening of all enablers in the innovation ecosystem to map out the overall framework and programs to be implemented.
“There is a need to strengthen curriculum towards computer science, engineering, data science and AI application design, among others. This effort is also deemed to be inclusive as disqualified BPO applicants and retrenched agents will be retrained for AI application development that will eventually enable them to get jobs,” Sec. Lopez concluded.
by admin | Sep 5, 2017 | Business, National News
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will conduct a Public Consultation on the proposed Department Administrative Order (DAO) on the Revised Rules and Regulations Implementing the Business Name Law this coming September 14 from 8:00 to 11:30 in the morning at the Marco Polo Hotel, Nivel Hills, Apas, Cebu City.
According to DTI, the said DAO aims to further streamline and simplify procedures on business name registration to make DTI frontline service truly efficient and business-friendly.
In view of recent developments, particularly the government’s Ease of Doing Business Program, revision of Rules and Regulations on the Business Name Law has been made to keep it aligned with the said program, by consolidating several DTI issuances relevant to Act No. 3883.
A copy of the draft DAO may be downloaded from the DTI (www.dti.gov.ph) and PBR (business.gov.ph) websites for your information.
Considering that participation to the public consultation is on a first come-first-serve basis, those interested are encouraged to confirm attendance with Regina Verame at MaReginaVerame@dti.gov.ph or call telephone number (032) 255-0036/ 37 local 302 not later than September 12, 2017.#
Attachments area
by admin | Sep 4, 2017 | National News
PASAY CITY—Following the successful hosting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in March, the Philippines (PH), as current Chair of ASEAN 2017, stands ready to host once again a series of high-level meetings among economic ministers of the 10 Member States of ASEAN and the region’s trade partners.
As the biggest formal gathering of high-level economic officials this year, the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting and Related Meetings will run from 6 to 11 September 2017. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to lead the occasion with Secretary Ramon M. Lopez as the AEM Chair and DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo as AEM PH Lead.
Since the adoption of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025 last year and the Consolidated Strategic Action Plan (CSAP) in February 2017 in Manila, community building efforts have intensified under the Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN.
As the lead agency for the AEC Pillar, DTI together with member agencies of the Committee for AEC or CAEC (National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Finance, Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Board of Investments, Bureau of Customs, Presidential Management Staff, and Tariff Commission) have been pushing strategic measures that are aligned with the PH thematic priority on pursuing an “inclusive, innovation-led growth.” CAEC is an inter-agency coordination body tasked to facilitate policy formulation, and supervises the implementation of the AEC 2025
Increasing trade and investment, integrating the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the global value chains, and developing an innovation-driven economy are the identified strategic measures to achieve said thematic priority.
Under this year’s Chairmanship, PH’s priority deliverables include strategic measures pushing for an ASEAN-wide Self-certification Scheme, introducing a more robust method for AEC compliance monitoring through the ASEAN Seamless Trade Facilitation Indicators (ASTFI) and Review Mechanism for AEC, fostering a more facilitative and transparent trade in services regime sector through the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) negotiations, and strengthening investments through the Focused and Strategic (FAST) Action Agenda on Investment, and enhancing intra-regional connectivity and bolstering socio-economic growth in the regions through the launch of the ASEAN Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) Shipping Network.
PH is also introducing Inclusive Business in ASEAN, mainstreaming Women Economic Empowerment in AEC, and supporting cross-border trade and ecosystem of entrepreneurship based on technology and innovation through E-Commerce and the ASEAN Declaration on Innovation.
PH’s membership in ASEAN is seen as a means to further enhance the country’s competitiveness and reap the full benefits of participation in closer ASEAN regional economic integration.
ASEAN trade ministers will also meet their counterparts from Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States. These series of meetings will enable and exchange views on global and regional economic developments, as well as include discussions on trade agreements and economic cooperation mechanisms with these countries.
“At the end of the day, what will value is how these meetings concretely translate to creating more and better opportunities for ASEAN citizens to experience inclusive growth that leads to region-wide prosperity, as we partner for change and engage the world,” said Sec. Lopez, referring to this year’s theme of PH’s chairmanship of ASEAN.
Sec. Lopez is also scheduled to have bilateral meetings on the sidelines to discuss important trade and economic concerns and explore commercial opportunities.
“We see ASEAN as a platform where we can regionalize our national interests. Our collective efforts will lead us towards earning takeaways that will truly resonate to the country’s economic thrusts, and in turn to the benefit of our people,” said Usec. Rodolfo.
Alongside engagements with external partners are dialogues with the private sector and business councils including ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Canada – ASEAN Business Council (CABC), ASEAN – Korea Business Council (AKBC), US – ASEAN Business Council (USABC), Australian Chamber of Commerce (AustCham), Australia-New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC), Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Association (FJCCIA), East Asia Business Council (EABC) and ASEAN-India Business Council (AIBC) in order to recognize their significant contribution in producing appropriate policy options and recommendations to further facilitate ASEAN’s deeper economic integration.
by admin | Sep 2, 2017 | Tech Talk
Startup Weekend is an entrepreneurship learning program that gives participants real-world hands-on experience in creating and validating their business ideas. This year, Startup Weekend Bohol aims to connect with talents that have new innovations for the tourism sector.
Any idea from a new kind of souvenir item, to an app that lists the area’s available tourist spots and services (like TarShare), or even a new kind of transport system that will make it easier and cheaper for both locals and tourists to go to beaches, all ideas are welcome!
We purposefully selected a group of mentors that specialize in the various sectors in the tourism industry like food, transport, government, and recreation so they can assist teams that have questions on the application of their new product. The goal is to help guide each team on how they can create a sustainable business model for their idea so they can last many years and serve the tourism sector well.
We are also encouraging ideas that aren’t limited to applications in Bohol but to the whole world! Some of the ideas that have reached the global stage are Airbnb, Tripadvisor, Trivago, and those many apps and services you and your family use for travel or recommendations.
Have an awesome idea? Or are you someone who just wants to work on an awesome idea? Join Startup Weekend Bohol Tourism Edition!
The event is in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Provincial Government of Bohol, and the Bohol Investment Promotion Center. It is sponsored by PrintBit, Gwion, Uniform Solutions, and Sea Drake Island Cruises (we are still open for sponsorships!) . The participants at the event will also be mentored by Michael de Vincent Edwards, Aimee Lim, Tina Amper, Ben Skelton, and Peter Watkins. With them are judges Mark Phillips, Vicky Wallace, and many more startup ecosystem supporters.
Startup Weekend Bohol will be in September 29-October 1, 2017 at the Bohol Bee Farm Panglao. If you’d like to register and stay updated, text Zion at 09084213938 or e-mail us atbohol@startupweekend.org and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StartupWeekendBohol/
