by magnolia_eic | May 31, 2010 | Announcements, Local News / Bohol Balita
LET’S face it, stimulating local economies also need that small and medium enterprises (SMES) build roads that connect them to the vast information super-highway to get their products a world-wide exposure.
And with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) poring into the aspect of high tech marketing SMEs, Project Training Enhancement for Competitiveness in Harnessing Innovative Entrepreneurs (Project TECHIE) is the immediate government intervention.
Conceptualized to help local SMEs and Micro SME’s, the project as implemented by DTI Industry (DTI) and the Philippine National IT Standards (PhilNITS) Foundation, Inc. uses an integrated approach in Information Technology, enabling SMEs and MSMEs by building partnerships, training and giving them access to an efficient support through a project secretariat.
“It is in response to the mandate of the present administration that calls for the promotion and development of SMEs and MSMEs as a way of stimulating economic activity in the countryside, admits DTI regional director Asteria Caberte.
She adds, the project is “a tool, which can help local SMEs and MSMEs boost productivity and income as they’re taught how to maximize the use of the world wide web and the Internet in their promotion and marketing efforts”.
Coming with five levels of training, project TECHIE starts from basic computer literacy to comprehensive web marketing, according to DTI.
Implemented since December 2009 to June 30, 2010, the project roots out participants from SMEs and sends them to training courses.
The DTI nominates and selects participants to the training conducted by PhilNITS free to SMEs and MSMEs, she revealed.
It may be recalled that DTI has been actively promoting IT among local MSMEs here in the past three years.
DTI Director Maria Elena Arbon is optimistic that the project will improve the competitiveness of local MSMEs by enhancing their global presence through website promotion of products and services.
Locally, DTI partners with Holy Name University in the implementation of Phase 1, making use of HNUs IT facilities to train Boholano MSMEs on basic computer skills and applications.
Some 25 Boholano SMEs from the crafts and food sectors participated in the first batch of the training which was held last May 27-29 at the HNU Computer Laboratory.
PhilNITS Certified IT Professionals Mr. Hans Bawagan and Ms. Amy Caballo, Dean of HNU Computer Science Department conducted the training. Mr. Karlo Soriano, PhilNITS Cebu Manager also guested the three-day training.
Implemented via a 5-phase training program, each phase progresses into a more technical training with participants gaining exposure in using computer and its different practical applications in the work place.
Aside from learning the basic computer use, the project also aims to equip the SMEs and MSMEs with the knowledge and skills to maximize the benefits of the latest technologies to promote business, increase productivity and efficiency, and consequently improve revenue and profits.
The project’s five phases include Basic Computer Literacy and Applications Training, Promotion and Marketing: Internet-based Marketing, Electronic Brochures Bulletin, E-Commerce Applications and Market Research and Intelligence thru Technology Applications.
The training programs aim to enhance competitiveness through technology enhancement training and programs.
It also hopes to enhance global presence thru website promotion of products and services, provide skills in electronic promotion collaterals preparation and dissemination and facilitate E-Commerce or electronic transactions using Websites and other platforms.
Finally, the training aims to strengthen market promotion and market research through the use of available technology applications and develop regional centers as training providers for IT-enabling of SMEs and MSMEs. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 31, 2010 | Headlines, National News
CONSCIOUS of the perennial problems hounding the country’s educational system, authorities now look on a different angle and urges benevolent citizens to be part of the solution.
With apparent government backlog in providing education facilities, Department of Education (DepEd) taps concerned companies, organizations and citizens to pitch in and join Brigada Eskwela Plus.
According to the DepEd, there is a need for 39 new 2 classroom school buildings for the secondary and 62 2-classroom buildings for the elementary this year as enrollment increase is estimated at 5%.
The situation is also being complicated by the fact that the government’s education for all campaign is set to seek all school-age kids and pull them back to schools.
Over the pressing need for action, the call was echoed during the weekly Kapihan sa PIA as City schools division office through Dr. Erlinda Mahinay as the topic on Brigada Eskwela was raised.
Brigada Eskwela is a nationwide voluntary activity implemented by the DepEd and its external education stakeholders to prepare the schools for the opening of classes.
And just as old schools need to be refitted to make them lend a conducive environment to learning, clean ups, repairs, maintenance and other rehabilitation activities are needed.
And just as the government is hard up on funds, the authorities have said they could use a little help.
“We urge our communities to come out and help in any way they can, be it though free labor or materials needed for the repairs and rehabilitation or repainting jobs,” Dr. Mahinay resounded.
Or to those who have better economic conditions, we are now urging companies and groups for the “adopt a school” program of the Oplan Balik Eskwela, she said.
By adopting a school, organizations and companies can earn tax credits and at the same time help upgrade schools, she claimed.
The Brigada Eskwela of Oplan Balik Eskwela has been implemented to stop the old practice of students and pupils using the beginning days of the school year to clean up the school premises, Dr. Mahinay explained.
On the Brigada, parents and other community sectors concerned with education pitch in free labor and materials to institute repairs and rehabilitation of schools to make the schools conducive venues to learning.
Simultaneously launched last May 24, the Brigada Eskwela forms part of DepEd’s efforts to engage communities to sustainably help schools for the whole school year and be real partners in education, explains Auxilio Cruspero of the Bohol Division Office of the DepED during the same forum. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 27, 2010 | Election 2010, Headlines, National News
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help in investigating several election-related incidents.
According to Justice Undersecretary Alberto Agra in reports, the DOJ has received a letter from Comelec Chairman Jose Melo asking them to help investigate certain incidents that happened in the past two weeks.
Agra said among those to be investigated are the compact flash cards presented by Quezon City Rep. Annie Suzano, the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines allegedly kept in Antipolo, Rizal, and Cagayan de Oro and the reported taped conversation of Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.
“The DOJ will take the lead in so far as the investigation pertaining to Cong. Suzano and the ‘Hello Nico’ tape but PNP will proceed with their investigation of the PCOS machine incidents,” he added.
The National Bureau of Investigation will also be helping the DOJ in verifying the authenticity of the “Hello Nico” tape, which reportedly featured a telephone conversation between Ferrer and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno about rigging the polls.
The DOJ and PNP are looking to finish the initial investigation for all the incidents by June 15.
by magnolia_eic | May 27, 2010 | Announcements, Headlines, Weather Coverage
IF you can already feel the hot and sticky weather, state weather forecasters said this is the sign that the rainy season expected in June may be on.
According to the forecasters at the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) hot, sticky weather means humidity is high and that the atmosphere is already moisture-laden so the rainy season is near.
The news is now a welcome respite especially in Bohol where consumers who have seen frequent power outages fear that the drought may have already affected the country’s power generation.
The farmers in Bohol, especially those served by the huge irrigation systems in north eastern Bohol have also been praying for rain in as much as irrigation services have been rationed due to near critical levels of the dams, sources from the irrigation administration bared.
This week, people are also awaiting rains as an inter-tropical convergent zone is spotted near Mindanao and forecasters have predicted rains to affect Mindanao and the Visayas areas. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 27, 2010 | Election 2010, Headlines, National News
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has rescheduled to June 3 the conduct of special polls in seven municipalities of Lanao del Sur, two municipalities of Basilan, and in one municipality of Sarangani where there was a failure of elections.
In a five-page resolution, the Comelec said that it has rescheduled the elections in Lumba Bayabao, Lumbaca Unayan, Marogong, Masiu, Sultan Domalondong, Tubaran, and Bayang towns in Lanao del Sur; barangays Danapah, Kailih, Bato-Bato, Apil-Apil, Bucalao, Sangkahan, Cambug, and Look Bisaya in Al Barka and barangays Upper and Lower Mahaybahay in Maluso, Basilan; and barangay Poblacion in Gian, Sarangani.
The special polls were initially scheduled on Friday but the poll body said that it needs more time to prepare the logistical, manpower, and security requirements for the conduct of the elections.
Comelec Resolution 8921 says that no voting was conducted in the seven municipalities in Lanao del Sur because the teachers who were supposed to serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) there did not show up on election day. It likewise said that some BEIs in Basilan were not able to perform their functions on May 10.
The Omnibus Election Code gives the poll body 30 days to reschedule polls once the reasons for failure of elections in these areas disappear. (PIA-Bohol)
