Geographic Info Gaining Demand in RP

Geographic information system (GIS) is now gaining the interest of both local and international business groups. This was revealed during the 8^th Philippine ESRI GIS User Conference held at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, Quezon City Philippines last October 8 – 9 2008.

This year’s theme, “GIS: Innovative Solutions in a Challenged Environment” aptly focuses in introducing how GIS can benefit government and private organizations through location intelligence, thus meeting today’s environment challenges.

GIS, as defined by the Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc.,(ESRI) “integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information”. For business establishments, GIS can assists marketing strategies implemented by the company, particularly in building a new branch of the business. For government, GIS can display data of crime hotspots or earthquake movement and history which are both vital for security and safety purposes.

The two-day event featured technical track session, product display and plenary sessions through the joint effort of Geodata Systems Technologies, Inc., and ESRI organized by Events@Work.

Web Philippines Inc., thanks the following sources
ABS-CBN Global News Demand for Geographic Information Systems growing (Posted October 14, 2008) Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://www.abs-cbnglobal.com/ItoangPinoy/News/GlobalNews/tabid/139/ArticleID/3463/TargetModuleID/515/Default.aspx

Asian Biztimes Geodata appoints MediaG8Way Corp. as media partner for GIS Confab. (Posted September 1, 2008) Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://www.aseanbiztimes.com/viewpage.php?id=68&page=infotech

GIS.com What is GIS? Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://www.gis.com/whatisgis/index.html

GIS.com Why use GIS? Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://www.gis.com/whatisgis/whyusegis.html

Valmero, Anna INQUIRER.net RP next hotbed for GIS deployment Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081009-165514/RP-next-hotbed-for-GIS-deployment

Coop Leaders Gather in Bicolandia Summit

Cooperatives throughout the archipelago met at the Convention Center in Pili, Camarines Sur from October 22 - 25 2008 for the 9^th National Cooperative Summit (NCS).

Organized by the Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC), around 2,000 cooperative heads sought partnership from local and international cooperatives in order to introduce new products and establish trading relations with one another. The summit also discussed the challenges currently faced by cooperatives and searched for the most viable solutions.

According to Mr. Felix Borja, Secretary-General of the Cooperative Union of the Philippines, the theme, “Cooperatives: Breaking Through Barriers and Beyond” is a response to acknowledge and search for solutions regarding the issues cooperatives, both local and international, face today. This goal will become more feasible with the assistance and cooperation of policy makers.

NCS secretary Daniel Ang added that the Summit wishes to give recognition to the achievements made by cooperatives through their innovation in the realm of management, government, and enterprise.

The event was sponsored by Land Bank of the Philippines, Peace and Equity Foundation, Metro South Cooperative Bank, AMKOR Tech Phils Employees Cooperative, Ating Koop Party List, National Cooperative Movement, Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines, National Confederation of Cooperatives, and Nationlink.

Web. Philippines, Inc. thanks its following sources:
Ang Budyong. (Vol. 2 Series 01) In .PDF Format entitled Official Publication of the 9th National Cooperative Summit - March – April 2008 Retrieved October 27, 2008
http://www.philcoopcenter.org/news.html

Manila Bulletin. Coop summit leaders seek policy, program reforms (p. B-11) Published October 21, 2008

Naga City Official Website. Coops to hold national summit in Naga Retrieved October 27, 2008
http://www.naga.gov.ph/journal2/?module=popup&page=2&id=1443

Naga City Official Website. Bicol to host 9^th Nat’l Cooperative Summit Retrieved October 27, 2008
http://www.catanduanestribune.com/NewsArticle/Detail.aspx?newsID=4638

Philippine Star, The.Co-op leaders push 17-pt agenda for development Retrieved October 27, 2008
http://beta.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=409814

Two Luzon Provinces seen as next BPO sites

Two provinces in Luzon are seen as the next venue for outsourcing companies according to a joint ranking made by government and private sector.

This ranking was released by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT); Philippine Board of Investments (BOI), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry; and Business Process Association of the Philippines.

Metro Laguna, which encompasses Sta.Rosa, Calamba, Los Banos, Cabuyao and San Pablo got the highest ranking while Metro Cavite, representing Dasmarinas, Bacoor, Imus and Cavite City ranked second. Other provinces included in the list are Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod, Angeles-Clark-Mabalacat, Baliuag-Marilao-Meycauayan, Cagayan De Oro, Malolos-Calumpit and Lipa.

Areas such as Baliuag-Marilao-Meycauayan were grouped together due to the proximity of these provinces to each other.

The top 10 provinces are said to have a large pool of talents, land for infrastructure, good business environment and low cost in doing business. These four elements were the basis of the three organizations in ranking the provinces of the country.

Ms. Celeste Ilagan, Executive Director of the Investment Promotion Group of BOI, stated in her interview with ABS-CBN News that the ranking aims to show investors that there are several choices for their business venues aside from Manila and Cebu.

Furthermore, CICT Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III told the press that relocation of BPOs outside the two major cities will boost the economy of the “new wave cities” and provinces and give chance to jobseekers living in these areas to earn higher salaries.

Web. Philippines, Inc. thanks its following sources:
Casiraya, Lawrence. INQUIRER.net. Laguna, Cavite promising areas for BPO Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081103-169982/Laguna-Cavite-promising-areas-for-BPO

CICT News. CICT, BPAP, DTI name Top Ten Next Wave Cities for Outsourcing Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://www.cict.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=194&Itemid=1

Montecillo, Paolo Luis G. Business World. ‘Next wave’ outsourcing centers cited Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://bworldonline.com/BW110408/ontent.php?id=054
Re posted on http://www.gmanews.tv/story/131146/Next-wave-outsourcing-centers-cited

Llanto, Jesus F. abs-cbnNEWS.com, Newsbreak Laguna, Cavite top next wave of locations for BPOs Retrieved November 4, 2008
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/03/08/laguna-cavite-top-next-wave-locations-bpos

Empowerment and Human Rights, Main Focus in Second Migration Forum -- (Press Release)

From October 27 to 30, 2008, delegates from all over the world convened for the 2^nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Metro Manila.

Guided by the theme, “Protecting and Empowering Migrants for Development”, the agenda of the 2nd Global Forum was based on the findings of the First Global Forum conducted at Brussels, Belgium in July 2007. The Brussels Forum concluded that special emphasis should be given to the protection and empowerment of migrant workers all over the world, placing high importance on the protection of human rights and promotion of regular migration.

The Forum was divided in to two general meetings, namely the Civil Society Days, scheduled from October 27 to 28 and Government Meeting from October 29 to 30.

The event’s roundtable discussions were divided into three topics: Migration, Development, and Human Rights, Secure, Regular Migration can Achieve Stronger Development Impact, and Policy and Institutional Coherence and Partnerships.

The Department of Foreign Affairs acted as lead agency for the Philippine Government for the 2^nd GFMD. Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, Esteban B. Conejos Jr., served as the Special Envoy for GFMD, and the Overall Chairman of the Philippine GFMD Preparatory Committee.

Members of the private sector, academe, and the civil society comprise the Philippine Organizing Committee for the Civil Society Days. These include the Ayala Foundation, Inc., which was enlisted as the secretariat; SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co., Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, University of the Philippines, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Economic Resource Center for Overseas Filipinos Philippines, Inc. (ERCOF), Migrant Forum in Asia, Manpower Resources of Asia, Inc., and Alliance of Progressive Labor.

The objective of the GFMD is to assemble government officials and experts from all over the world to enhance dialogue, cooperation, and partnership in the areas of migration and development. Moreover, it is intended to mutually identify and solve international migration issues that affect development of countries.

Tourism Heads Focus on Climate, Poverty and Women at International Cebu Forum -- (Press Release)

Representatives from different countries tackled issues on climate change, poverty alleviation, and role of women in tourism at the 6th International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities (ITF-PLA) held last October 22-25, 2008 at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa, Cebu.

Delegates from 157 countries attended the biennial Tourism Forum, made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Department of Tourism (DOT), City Government of Cebu, the Philippine Congress, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo during the opening ceremony stated that the ITF-PLA should not only focus on current issues affecting the tourism industry but to attend to the dilemmas that will continue to influence and have an effect on tourism in the years to come. Furthermore, she emphasized to “keep our faith in tourism as a powerful instrument to alleviate poverty.”

UNWTO Secretary General Francesco Frangialli, DOT Secretary Joseph ‘Ace’ Durano, and House Representative Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia gave the keynote addresses on Policy and Legislation for Tourism Development.

First held at Cadiz, Spain in 1995, the ITF-PLA assembles tourism heads, representatives and lawmakers from 154 member states and more than 350 affiliate members categorized under Business, Destination, and Education Council.

Web Philippines, Inc. thanks the following:

UN World Tourism Organization. Affiliate Members Directory. Retrieved on October 24, 2008
http://www.unwto.org/afiliados/directory/directory.php?lang=I
http://www.unwto.org/afiliados/about_us/en/about_us.php#

Cruz, Irene Sino. Visayas Bureau, INQUIRER.net. International tourism meet seen to boost Cebu, Bohol. Retrieved on October 24, 2008
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080205-116971/International-tourism-meet-seen-to-boost-Cebu-Bohol

Office of the President. PGMA's Speech during the Opening Ceremony of the UN-WTO 6th International Tourism for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities (October 22, 2008). Retrieved on October 24, 2008
http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/speech2008_oct22A.htm

Gov.Ph News. PGMA to open 6th U.N. tourism forum in Cebu Wednesday. Retrieved on October 24, 2008
http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=22574

GMANews.TV. UN tourism meet in Cebu to tackle global issues. Retrieved on October 24, 2008
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/119491/UN-tourism-meet-in-Cebu-to-tackle-global-issues

Lato, Cris Evert. Cebu Daily News. Posted on INQUIRER.net. Cebu to host global forum on tourism development. Retrieved on October 24, 2008

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/enterprise/view/20080910-159773/Cebu-to-host-global-forum-on-tourism-development