by admin | Jan 28, 2017 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
Auza.Net starts to offer its Digital Archiving Service in January 2017 to organizations with large volume of documents that need to be referenced quickly. After scanning paper documents and storing the scanned images in a digital archive, the company will then transcribe metadata of the documents and create an index. The digital archive is then searched using a web browser and the relevant documents may be viewed on the browser or downloaded.
The company already has been providing the service in previous years but only formally offered the service this month. Currently the company is creating a digital archive for a local government agency. The documents date as far back as the 90’s and most of these documents exist without known copies. The agency intends to use the archive as a backup as well as an online reference.
Currently the agency staff physically go through the documents in storage if they are looking for a reference. When the digital archive is brought online, they can perform the search on the transcribed metadata and will be able to quickly find the documents they need. In addition to their own use, the digital archive will also be accessible to the public. This will help lessen the queue of requests to search for the documents at their office.
In addition to creating the digital archive, Auza.Net also offers hosting of the digital archive for customers who do not want to invest on their own servers. A hosted digital archive is ideal for organizations that allow access to users that are spread out geographically or if public access is allowed.
It will be possible to create multiple copies of the documents at a much lower cost than photocopied hard copies. A copy of the digital archive on a USB drive or a CD can help preserve the documents as the paper copies will age over time. Also, damage can occur during a fire, typhoon or flood. Multiple copies of the archive on different geographical locations can help preserve the content of the documents.
For inquiries, please send email to info@auza.net or contact +63 38 5107846.
by admin | Jan 22, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
By JUNE S. BLANCO
FORTY national government agencies in one-stop shops in Ubay and Talibon towns?
Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District), chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology said the idea is not far-fetched.
This after Bohol in the Visayas, Naga in Luzon and Davao in Mindanao will be piloted for the first ever satellite-based internet connectivity project.
Aumentado said the project augurs well for a stable connection so that Ubay and Talibon as well as their counterpart towns in Luzon and Mindanao may soon set up these one-stop shops initially with
These will spell savings for residents in these and nearby towns as they may just go to these shops to secure clearances and transact businesses with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Trade and Industry, Social Security System and the like – for an initial 20 agencies.
Aumentado said Ubay and Talibon still has poor connectivity hence he pushed for the inclusion of these towns as project pilots.
Ubay and Talibon, he said, are the most populous towns in Bohol. Both have seaports while Ubay has an airport.
This spells booming business for both towns although at times, he said, the connectivity is poor.
“That is why Ubay and Talibon should get the first crack at better connectivity,” he explained.
This will give Bohol a competitive edge in the wake of the Asean integration, he said.
It is about time that Ubay should level up its business climate. With reliable internet, suppliers can find clients and buyers can find suppliers. Since both parties are working from their respective offices, time lost due to travel can be cut, he explained.
by admin | Jan 21, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
GOV. EDGAR M. CHATTO sat with the Bohol Information and Communication Technology Council (BICTC) for a situationer briefing of Bohol’s digital landscape and to brainstorm on the immediate need for an ICT Education Summit for the province at the Governor’s Mansion Tuesday.
Lai Biliran updated the governor about Digital Bohol and presented the data on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ranking in the Visayas across varied disciplines as it correlates to the long-haul development agenda of the province and the need for jobs by big industries.
Gov. Chatto and the BICTC members were made to understand how the HEI rankings reflect Boholano institutions’ status as regards to world-class quality education, as compared to that of other learning establishments in other areas in the country.
Ms. Biliran emphasized and explained about the importance of the terms “Center of Excellence” and “Center of Development” as reflected on the HEI rankings and how they reflect a learning institution’s capability and capacity in passing on world-class quality education to its students.
As defined under CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 16 Series of 2015, a Center of Excellence (COE) refers to a teacher education program under a college or department within a HEI, which continually demonstrates excellent performance in the areas of instruction, research and publication, extension and Linkages, institutional qualifications, and exhibit an excellent ability to produce quality pre-service teacher education to meet the needs of progressive teachers for elementary, secondary and special education programs in the Philippines.
To qualify for the selection of COE, the teacher education programs should have passed the initial screening, which includes Level II accreditation/international standing.
To be considered a COE, the total score for the different parameters in the criteria should at least be 75 points.
As to Center of Development (COD), it refers to a teacher education program under a college or department within a higher education institution which demonstrates the potential to become a COE in the future.
To qualify for this, an institution’s teacher education program should have also passed the initial screening, which includes the same level as that of the COD.
But in this case, to be considered a COD, the total score of the different parameters in the criteria should at least be 65 points.
Gov. Chatto studied the data presented to him by Ms. Biliran, where he became a bit concerned for in Region 7, only six from Cebu, one from Dumaguete, and one from Tacloban got the COE and COD designations.
Ms. Biliran then exhaustibly explained that despite the brilliance of students and the excellent education that Boholanos are getting from our very own learning institutions, the degrees that our graduates get from their college education either do not complement, are not related to, or not in parallel with, the job openings of the establishments here.
This is also the reason why our very own graduates look for job vacancies in other areas for Bohol lacks the job opportunities that job seekers could relate to, or in consonance with, what they have learned in school.
This is why Bohol needs to have an ICT Education Summit, Ms. Biliran said, “so we can guide our schools’ individual roadmaps to support industries.”
On February 23-24, a discussion of the Visayas ICT Organizations (VICTor) conference will be held here in Bohol, with a gathering of notable resource persons which, they hope she added, could be redesigned as the ICT Education Summit for the province.
Wrapping up the meeting, the next steps for Digital Bohol were thereafter also discussed.
Prior to the briefing, Gov. Chatto swore in the new set of officers for the BICTC. (JLV/PGBh/EDCom)
by admin | Jan 14, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
The Bohol ICT Council elected its new set of officers on January 10, 2017 at the Governor’s Mansion in Tagbilaran City. Gov. Edgar M. Chatto inducted the new officers.
The officers come from diverse backgrounds including engineering, information technology, business, digital marketing, education, government, and freelancing. They have expressed their commitment to bring new ideas and usher in a new era of growth into the innovation community in Bohol.
They hope to engage with the different community sectors in Bohol to figure out how the council will be best able to help them. They are interested in listening to pulse of the Boholano people and making sure that the council understands the needs of the different communities.
The Bohol ICT Council will be spearheading the current government’s initiative of making Bohol digitally competitive. The new initiative of Digital Bohol which was launched in October of last year will also be a priority for the council this year.
The newly elected Bohol ICT Council officers are as follows:
President: Joanne Phillips
Vice President: Ben Skelton
Secretary: Babie Sarah Ladeza
Treasurer: Grethel Mende
Auditor: Ayeng Castro
Press Relations Officer: Zion Campo
Community Lead for eCommerce: Monica Jane Roldan
Community Lead for Freelancers: Jorine Bryan Agua
Community Lead for Hardware Technology: Roy Bayonas
Outgoing president Ms. Lai Biliran will be turning over the responsibilities to the new president Ms. Joanne Phillips within January.
Gov. Edgar M. Chatto (leftmost) administers the oath of the newly elected officers of the Bohol ICT Council. Outgoing President Ms. Lai Biliran (2nd from right) witnesses the oath with former President Ms. Leah Tiro-Magno (3rd from right).
(Zion Campo, Jerome Auza)
(Photo courtesy of Zion Campo)
(Source: Change is Coming to the Bohol ICT Council)
by admin | Nov 26, 2016 | Headlines, Tech Talk
The Province of Bohol hosted the Open Collaboration of East Asia New Champions 2016 Summit (OCEAN 16) on November 24-26, 2016 at the Be Grand Resort in Panglao, Bohol. Thought leaders and movers from the Philippines, the ASEAN, the US and the UK joined the summit which tackled breakthroughs in technology that are fundamentally transforming whole systems of production, management, and governance. These transformations aid societies overcome challenges from business and energy, to transportation and climate change.
The so called “Fourth Industrial Revolution” or “Industry 4.0,” was the main theme of the summit and this presents an opportunity for the Philippines not only to keep up with more advanced nations, but also solve urgent problems plaguing the country. This revolution is the fusion of electrical and digital systems with physical and biological systems and is made possible by the proliferation of the Internet and mobile devices.
In various panels during the summit, the topic of the startup ecosystem in the Philippines was discussed. The issues on connectivity and access to funding was also tackled. Winston Damarillo, chief organizer of the event, said that the Philippines should not try to become the next Silicon Valley but instead tackle the unique issues in the country and create businesses that solve these issues.
The event kicked off with a discussion on “Understanding the Future of Cybersecurity” and a Sunset Welcome Cocktail Event on November 24. On the second day, November 25, Damarillo delivered the opening keynote and facilitated teh opening plenary session with the moderators of the various panels. There were two tracks of the panels and the topics include “Sustainability at the Heart of Business”, “Powering Small Businesses”, “The Future of Talent”, “The Disruption of Industries”, “Innovation for All” and “Data is the New Oil”. The second day closed with the panel on Collaborative Governance and the Next Economic Power which covers the ASEAN and the state of collaboration between nations, between the government and private sector. A case study for collaboration in Bohol where multi-sectoral participation in various initiatives is common and has reaped important results in prioritization of infrastructure investment and in the relief effort immediately after the October 2013 earthquake and in the rehabilitation programs.
The participants were entertained during the gala dinner hosted by the province of Bohol. Gov. Edgar Chatto and the First Lady of the province, Mayor Maria Pureza Chatto graced the event. Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap and the First Lady of the City, Ms. Jane Yap also graced the event.
The last day of the event included a plenary session on “Preparing for the Digital Future”. This was followed by a Closing Plenary with the Summit Co-Chairs Winston Damarillo, Karen Davilla, Sen. Bam Aquino, Richard Dacalos and Analisa Balares. In the afternoon, a workshop about the “Deep Globality” and the Youth was held. This was followed by a public filming of the new TV show for Indiepreneurs called “I’m In”. The show features entrepreneurs pitching in front of angel investors with the goal of getting investment commitments from the investors.
The plenary session on Collaborative Governance and the Next Economic Power. L-R: Jerome Auza, Auza.Net and BCCI, Yeen Seen Ng, COO of ASLI, Iim Fahima Jachja of QueenRides.com, Sen. Bam Aquino, Former Sec. Bon Moya
Dep. of Budget & Management, Bohol Provincial Administrator Alfonso A. Damalerio.
The OCEAN 16 Summit Co-chairs after the closing plenary: Analisa Balares
CEO, Womensphere, Richard Dacalos
Creator & Co-Founder, Upstart, Bam Aquino
Senator, Republic of the Philippines, Winston Damarillo
Founder & CEO – Amihan, Exist Software, Karen Davila
Journalist, ABS-CBN
One of the products featured in the I’m In TV Show for Indiepreneurs. The shoe craftsman who made the shoe is a retired shoemaker and after his pitch to the angel investors, he got an offer to have a gallery of his designs to be presented to a VIP audience.
Some members of the Boholano delegation that joined the summit led by Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Engr. Al Uy (center). The group is composed of the representatives of the provincial government, young entrepreneurs, BCCI board of trustees and BICTC officers.
Fablab featured various examples of products that were fabricated by various makers and maker organizations. Some of these products are already commercially sold.
by admin | Nov 11, 2016 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, National News, Tech Talk, World
Companies join tech experts and changemakers in leading digital revolution
Breakthroughs in technology are fundamentally transforming whole systems of production, management, and governance to aid societies overcome challenges from business and energy, to transportation and climate change.
Called the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” or “Industry 4.0,” this trend presents an opportunity for the Philippines not only to keep up with more advanced nations, but also solve urgent problems plaguing the country.
“This year in Davos, we talked about the Fourth Industrial Revolution – how high technology will promote rapid industrialization and how digital can impact lives for the better,” said Winston Damarillo, a Filipino Young Global Leader recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) which held its 2016 meeting at Davos-Klosters, Switzerland in January.
Several organizations are already working towards supporting Industry 4.0 in the Philippines by helping companies and government adapt to Big Data, Cloud Computing, and other digital innovations.
Energy goes digital
With new demands and advancements disrupting power industry norms, energy giant Meralco is spearheading discussions on emerging solutions with its annual Technology and Innovation Summit (MTECH).
Already in its second year, MTECH brings in fresh insights and experiences from global technology companies to help inform the local energy industry and pave the way for smarter utilities. This year, the summit revolved around creating intelligent customer-centered solutions that enhance human lives.
Alongside the discussions, Meralco implemented its Automated Distribution Management System (ADMS) this year to digitize the electrical grid and automate power distribution in the event of an outage.
ADMS is part of the company’s efforts to transform the business, enabling it to support alternative forms of energy like wind and solar, as well as digital trends such as Big Data and Cloud.
Empowering MSMEs
Digital technology is no longer the privilege of large corporations. Through PLDT SME Nation, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as well as startups can leverage business-enabling solutions through hardware, broadband connectivity, and mobile devices to gain competitive advantage.
One such solution is the Smart Tracker which enables business owners to monitor their vehicles or field force personnel in real time to ensure operational productivity and security. Smart Tracker is part of a suite of industry-specific enterprise tools called Smart Logistics Solutions that include fleet management, e-ticketing systems, and digital proof of delivery.
This year, PLDT SME led a series of road shows to promote disruptive technologies for business. These forums served as avenues where aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from businesses that found success in their respective industries through available digital solutions.
Next steps for PH
Disruptive and transformative technologies show promise in fostering productivity, cost-efficiency, and sustainability across many sectors, but adoption has been slow.
To promote Industry 4.0, top executives from Meralco, PLDT SME, Landbank, BDO, Hortonworks, and NEC Philippines will present along with other young Filipino luminaries and changemakers at theOpen Collaboration with East Asia New Champions Summit 2016 (OCEAN 16) in Bohol.
OCEAN is a biennial gathering where global leaders discuss how to better shape the future. Organized by the New Champions of the World Economic Forum, the upcoming event will impart insights from Davos 2016 as well as introduce a roadmap for “Digital Bohol” that will serve as a guide for local government units in harnessing smart technology.
Senator Bam Aquino, a co-chair of OCEAN 16, believes that “government support is important to unlocking the potential for technological innovation. That is why we are pushing for the Innovative Startup Act, so that we can boost our digital startup community.”
“Bohol will be a whole new experience. It’s a microcosm of what we want to achieve for the theme of this year’s OCEAN,” said Damarillo, who is also a co-chair of OCEAN 16. “Technology will help Filipinos everywhere tap into their creativity, come together to share resources, and include more and more people into the economy and the conversation that is now taking place online. Technology can help us be who we are, but better.”
To learn more about OCEAN 16, please visit http://ocean16.asia/.
