GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/3 Nov) – Top information and communication technology (ICT) players and policy-makers from various parts of the country and several countries in Southeast Asia will gather here Friday to discuss strategies and technology trends that could help further propel the country’s “digital development.”
Ronald Velasquez, chair of the ICT Solutions Association of Region 12, said Thursday around 500 delegates have confirmed to attend the three-day 4th National ICT Summit, which will open on Friday at the KCC Convention Center here.
He said among the expected participants are ICT players, enthusiasts as well as national and local government policy-makers.
Delegations from various parts of the resurging Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) are also joining the summit, he said.
Lawyer Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) chair, said this year’s summit will focus on the theme: “Championing Countrywide Digital Development.”
“It aims to strengthen and intensify infrastructures and institutions surrounding ICT in the country,” she said.
Batapa-Sigue said the summit will gather various ICT councils that “share a common vision of transforming the country into a world-class global services provider.”
She said they have invited various experts and national government officials to discuss strategies on improving ICT ecosystems in the countryside; updates and trends on business process outsourcing and human capital development; and, areas of collaboration to generate jobs and investment.
Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo will tackle the “Philippine Digital Strategy and Regional Hubs” while Rep. Sigfrido Tiñga of the House of Representatives’ ICT committee will discuss the “NICP and its ICT Councils, a strategic partner for country-wide ICT development,” among others.
During the summit, the NICP-Mindanao will also sign a memorandum of agreement with the Mindanao Development Authority in support of the “Mindanao ICT Investment Plan Initiative.”
Batapa-Sigue said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has earlier issued a memorandum circular encouraging local government units to participate in the summit.
The 4th National ICT Summit is supported by Microsoft Philippines, e-PLDT, ABM Global Solutions, Teledevelopment and BPO Career Hubs, and the city government of General Santos. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)