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Wednesday, October 06, 2004
All set in Zamboanga for 3rd MICT Congress
By Cheng Ordoņez
MINDANAO'S information and communication technology (ICT) industry stakeholders coming from the government, the academe, non-government organizations, civil society and media in Mindanao are expected to converge for the Mindanao Summit on Information Society.
The 3rd Mindanao ICT Congress on October 8 to9, 2004, will be held at the Garden Orchid Hotel. The summit is set to bolster efforts to accelerate an ICT-based economy in the island-region.
ICT counterparts in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) are also expected to attend.
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Director Brenda Nazareth said in a press statement the congress, with the theme, eMindaNOW! (Mindanao: Networked, Online, Worldwide), is organized by the Mindanao Business Council, Regional Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Council-IX, Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce, Inc., City Government of Zamboanga, Mindanao Economic Development Council, Communication on Information and Communications Technology Council, and Philippine Electronics and Telecommunications Federation.
The congress would be a right step towards realizing our goal of having a world-class ICT hub in Mindanao driven by the strong private and government partnership," Assistant Secretary Eufemia Calderon, vice-chair of MEDCo, said.
Regional consultations have been done to generate issues and concerns relative to the development of ICT in Mindanao, as well as to draw support from various stakeholders on the conduct of the congress.
City Mayor Celso Lobregat will give the welcome remarks while Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce chairman Atty. Jose Batausa will acknowledge the guests and participants, Dir. Nazareth said.
The opening program also includes messages to be delivered by Chairman Virgilio L. Pena, of the Commission on ICT; PA Jesus Dureza, MICT Task Force; Antonio Santos, Conference chair and chairman of MBC; Dr. Charles Feibel, head of party, GEM-USAID; and Raffaello Tarroni, UNDP resident coordinator.
Plenary 1 follows with WSIS: Background, Phase I Outputs, Onwards To Phase II by Kathleen Heceta, deputy commissioner, NTC; Plenary 2: Implications of WSIS for the Philippines and The Philippine ICT Strategic Road Map Outputs of the PSIS Preparatory Workshop. The plenary session will be followed by an open forum with Chairman Pena and Engr. Aurora Rubio, chief, Telecom Policy and Planning, DOTC, as moderators.
Plenary 3 will discuss Mindanao ICT: Opportunity, Potential, Challenges & Issues; Plenary 4: Future ICT Infrastructure Plan in Mindanao.
Moderator for Plenary 3 & 4 will be RD Rafael Evangelista Jr., of NEDA.
Other issues to be discussed include Validation of Phase I Workshop Outputs (by invitation); Enabling the Environment for ICT investments in Mindanao; Trends in Geo-spatial Technologies ; Technical Secretariat, STCC Committee on Space Tech. Application; E-Governance: Lessons Learned (City Level); SMS in Business and Government in the Philippines; E-Governance: Lessons Learned (Provincial Level); Resources in Setting up a Call Center.
A Dinner/Fellowship Night at La Vista del Mar Beach Resort will be tendered the participants in the evening after the session.
On Saturday, October 09, the discussions will center on the following: Best Practices on Connectivity/Networking; BIMP Growth Area: Potentials for ICT Collaboration in Mindanao; and ICT in Schools.
Plenary 8 will be mainly presentations, regional workshop outputs (pre-congress) and 3rd MICT Resolutions.
A response and keynote speech will be delivered by Sen. Mar Roxas.
Plenary 9 involves Building Confidence and Security in the Use of ICTs; Plenary 10-The Virtual Business League GIS: Spatial and Planning Tool; IT Potentials for SMEs: Managing the Digital Firm;
IT Potentials for SMEs: SMS in Business Tran-sactions; Connecting Rural Mindanao: The Upi, Maguindanao Experience; Broadband Access Networks Using New Technologies Like VoIP, WiFi Building an Effective and Efficient e-Gov't in Times of Financial Crisis follows.
The distribution of certificates will be followed by Cocktails at the Garden Orchid Convention Center.
(October 6, 2004 issue)
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