Technology best tool to destroy gov't bureaucracy

Technology can be used to empower the people by destroying bureaucracies in government, said Oscar Orbos, former executive secretary of then President Corazon Aquino, in his talk before participants of the Microsoft Business Summit 2006 at the Atlantic Hall of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Over 200 business leaders, players in the Information and Technology sector, government officials, and small and medium-scale businessmen gathered yesterday for the half-day event organized by Microsoft.

The event was held to help small and medium sized business prepare for what is to come in the year 2006.

Aside from Orbos, Guillermo Luz, the executive director of the Makati Business Club, also gave a talk and so did Lai Biliran of Alturas Supermarket and Cebuano Wilson Ng of Ng Khai Development Corp.

Orbos said that the use of technology will give people access to information and a means to overcome bureaucracies that impede development or transactions.

Orbos said that he looks forward to the time when you don't have to go to other parts of the country to do things like purchase real estate and you get to do everything on-line.

He noted that in the 1970s, those with information held the power. With new technology, everyone can now have access to a lot of information and this results to empowerment of many other people.

Luz, for his part, presented what went right for the Philippine economy in 2005.

Among the things he mentioned were an increase in remittances by the Overseas Filipino Workers, a two-fold increase in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) investments, a strong tourism sector, and gains in the stock market.

Luz also pointed to the implementation of the expanded Value Added Tax as another major business trend in 2005 along with the Philippine peso gaining strength against the dollar.

Luz said that the BPO sector has experienced a 100 percent growth in 2005 and has been a very profitable venture to go into.

He also cited the accomplishments of Sec. Joseph 'Ace' Durano of the Department of Tourism, who has silently steered tourism to greater heights.

Luz said that Durano was not a very popular choice for the position, but the Cebuano cabinet member, has proven that he was up to the task.

Stephen Misa, director SMS&P of Microsoft Phils. Inc. said that the purpose of the business summit was to give the businessmen and decision makers the foresight and to inspire them.

Biliran and Ng shared with those who attended the summit their experiences in growing their business to what they are now.