TechTalk: Bohol organizes first ICT Summit
In the effort of strengthening the goals of the Provincial Government and the private sector, the local ICT Council has organized and put together The Bohol ICT Summit last March 10, 2011 at the Bohol Tropics Resort. Speakers flew in from different parts of the country in order to share their knowledge and experience on how IT has reshaped their community into something more developed and successful.
The guest speaker was the Hon. Ivan John E. Uy, Secretary for the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT). Also coming in for lectures were Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Chair of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines for the Bacolod experience; Ms. Lizabel “Wit” Holganza on the Davao Experience; Ms. Ana Maria Bongato, Director for Talent and Development from BPAP for a talk on BPO Trends and Opportunities and Ms. Emmy Lou Delfin for a talk on the Scorecards of the different Philippine cities or provinces when it comes to being a BPO destination.
The event was also graced by the Governor himself, Atty. Edgar Chatto. He champions this movement together with the ICT council headed by Ms. Dalia T. Magno, and the rest of the council members. Other key government officials also came to the summit, among them, 3rd District Representative Arthur Yap, Mr. Eduardo Macalandag, City Administrator who came in for Mayor Dan Lim and Atty. Filipina Piollo Asoy representing Vice Governor Concepcion Lim.
The first ever IT summit in Bohol was well attended by participants inculding those from the academe, the business community and the Local Government Units. It was meant to send a message that the province is now ready to be the next wave city for information technology. Tagbilaran and the rest of Bohol with the full support of the governor must pool together its talents and resources so it can begin accepting BPO investors for the “sunrise industry” of information technology.
The guest speaker, Secretary Uy, expressed the potential of Philippines’ BPO industry. As of year 2010, 600,000 workers are already in the BPO industry and have already contributed 9 billion dollars to the Philippine economy, and the country is presently adjudged as the best offshoring destination for manpower.
The viablity of Bohol’s locality in becoming the next big city for IT has already been proven by statistics, as Philippines has now become number one in the BPO industry surpassing India and other countries. Judging from the given speeches of the local officials who were present, Tagbilaran is in itself ready for the infrastructure, and business environment that BPO locators need. Although demands may surpass the actual talent that the schools and universities are producing, Bohol can eventually catch up by providing more trainings to potential talents. Once the BPO companies start pouring in, development will surge in the city and will eventually spill over the neighboring towns. This will result in opening of more business establishments that will cater to the needs of the BPO industry, an industry that never sleeps.
So how did Bohol come to realize this potential? and why only now? For this, and as worded by the governor himself, we have the telephone companies to thank. Before, Bohol was a very difficult and inconvenient place to set up an IT business, and this is because it lacked the infrastructure and communication equipment. Now, these telco giants have set up sites and fiber optics for easier, more efficient communication.
With the advent of IT development here in Bohol, and the enthusiasm of the people involved, there is only one thing left to do, and that is to build the first BPO company, and the rest will follow. However, Bohol and its LGU’s must also take into consideration the negative effects of rapid development and work it out as early as possible so that Bohol is prepared in all aspects for its next giant step in development.
