CICT dares IT sector to sustain top position

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) throws a challenge to Cebu ICT stakeholders to sustain its number one position as “Emerging BPO hub” in the world, after the latter showed signs of being complacent.

“We hope to see revival of Cebu’s aggressiveness in promoting the province as BPO/ICT hub,” said CICT Commissioner Monchito B. Ibrahim during his speech on the recently concluded “ICT Convergence” held at the Cebu International Convention Center.

He said although some sectors in the industry like the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for IT (Cedfit) and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) have been doing their own promotional events for ICT, there are also other opportunities that stakeholders have missed.

Ibrahim referred to the series of promotions organized by the CICT abroad, of which Cebu has not been very active in participating in.

“We’d like to see Cebu more participative in our promotions abroad,” he said adding that what are seen to be very active in their promotions are the next wave Cities like Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

For a year, Ibrahim said Cebu has not been very active in its ICT promotions, at least in joining nationwide efforts through different government initiatives.

Sustained efforts should be started by Cebu stakeholders in order not to lose the opportunity for improving from emerging to “emerged’ BPO destination in the world.

However, Ibrahim lauded Cebu’s efforts in pioneering the active stance in positioning itself as BPO/ICT destination, the reason why it was tagged as number one “Emerging BPO destination” globally.

“I think Cebu has done a tremendous work in achieving its position right now. But it has to be sustained. Cebu needs to spend time and efforts holding on, and improving its manpower pool,” he said.

In the beginning, Cebu has taken its lead. Thus, most second wave cities now are looking at Cebu as its model City. However, complacency might cause Cebu to plunge.

The Convergence 2009 is an ICT road show that is aimed at pursuing objectives according to CICT’s four strategic areas; Cyberservices, Human Capital Development, eGoverment Development and ICT Infrastructure.

The Cebu leg opened last August 25 to 26. The two-day road show supported by Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P) and Coordinating Council of Private Education Association (COCOPEA) aimed to highlight key programs such as; BPO-IT Career Caravan, Community eCenter Program, BizSpark, Service Science Management and Engineering, eSkwela, iSchools, Creative Content Development Project, Nettop ng Bayan, eLGU, eBayad and eSerbisyo, among others.

According to Ibrahim, CICT has make noise in putting pressure to Cebu stakeholders to avoid complacency, as other emerging BPO destinations in world, like Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, Mongolia and Indonesia are doing double time in attracting BPO market around the world.

It’s a good thing that the Philippines, particularly Cebu, has another attraction that also lures investors not only for its skilled and high qualified English speaking manpower pool but also for its tourism ingredient.

For his part, Cebu Investments and Promotions Center (CIPC) managing director Joel Mari S. Yu said that although Cebu’s promotion has been sustained, the problem now is the sluggish inquiries from the global investors caused by recession jitters.

Yu said Ibrahim is entitled to his own opinion in saying that “Cebu has been complacent in its promotions to sustain its number position as emerging BPO hub in the world.”—Ehda M. Dagooc