SBMA waives P30-M rent from Subic schools

SUBIC BAY FREE PORT—To help upgrade the quality of the work force in the Subic Bay area, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has waived lease rentals that the agency collects from schools operating in this free port.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said that as a result, the SBMA will now be giving up some P30 million in annual rentals through a “no-lease” scheme offered to schools here as a form of incentive to help improve the skills of Subic workers and enable them to meet industry requirements.

Arreza said the waived income would constitute almost a 100-percent increase over the P16.3-million annual subsidy previously given by the agency through discounts on property leases.

Likening the program to “hitting multiple birds with one stone,” Arreza said the beneficiary schools could plow back their savings into scholarship grants and projects to improve their staff and facilities.

With this scheme, Arreza said academe would get much-needed financial support, Subic Free Port industries would be assured of a globally competitive work force, and the community would reap the resulting benefits.

“In the long run, we hope to see a constant increase in enrollment at all levels, [as well as] the enhancement and inclusion of courses and fields of studies that are required in this free port,” Arreza added.

Initially, six of the 11 schools operating in this free port will be included in the program. These are Casa Kalayaan International School, FIRST School of Subic Bay Free Port Zone, Subic Montessori School, Lyceum of Subic Bay, Comteq Computer and Business College, and Mondriaan Aura College. The schools are now being audited in preparation for their inclusion in the program.

A memorandum of agreement is also being prepared to specify the commitments to be made under the program by both the SBMA and its partner-schools, Arreza said.

The program is also expected to build on the gains made by the Subic Bay Workforce Development Foundation Inc., a multisectoral body established by the SBMA to promote work-force development among public and private entities here, and the SBMA Scholarship Foundation, which has been tasked to formulate the program’s guidelines and policies.

The SBMA decided to grant the lease-free privileges to Subic schools after the agency’s board of directors approved in January a program calling for a more globally competitive work force in the Subic Bay free port.

Beatrix Anagaran, head of the SBMA General Business and Investment Department, said the program to produce a globally competitive work force sprung from a strategic planning session held by the SBMA in October, when Arreza took note of the “very sad statistics of Philippine education.”

Anagaran said Arreza then directed her department to come up with a study on Subic’s educational institutions, while emphasizing the role SBMA has to play in the advancement of education within the Subic Bay area and the neighboring communities of Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan. Written by Henry Empeño - businessmirror.com.ph

SBMA eyes 17-ha. ICT hub in Subic free port

SUBIC BAY FREE PORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is eyeing the establishment of a 17-hectare information and communications technology (ICT) park here to bring this free port at the front-line of the country’s knowledge-based sector.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza announced in a statement on Tuesday that the Subic agency has partnered with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Corp. (PLDT) to put up the 17-hectare park to showcase Subic’s ICT capability.

The project would highlight PLDT’s “ready-to-use” telecoms solutions and ICT infrastructure, including the firm’s Next Generation Network (NGN) fiber-optics cable network that now connects Subic to Manila and the entire Luzon grid.

“Capacity comes first before opportunity,” Arreza said, also pointing out that international players in the business-process outsourcing (BPO) industry have been prospecting for opportunities in Subic.

He added that PLDT also recognized SBMA’s vision for an expanded Subic-Clark economic corridor, “and they acted in accordance with that vision.”

Arreza said that with PLDT’s help, it is expected that the Subic Bay Free Port would become synonymous with BPO and IT-related services, like back-office outsourcing, software and games development, engineering design and digital animation.

Prior to this announcement, Arreza signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with officials of PLDT and its subsidiary, PLDT Subic Telecom (Subictel). The agreement, which would pave the way for tripartite collaborative projects, was signed by PLDT Subictel chairman and PLDT senior vice president Ernesto Alberto, PLDT first vice president Nerissa Ramos and PLDT Subictel president Dennis Magbatoc.

The MOU, Arreza said, basically calls for the promotion of Subic Bay Free Port’s IT capabilities through the SBMA-PLDT-Subictel caravan project, which will boast of some P40-million ICT investments that the PLDT has put up here recently.

He added that under the project, the P20-million Innovation Laboratory (Innolab) unveiled by Subictel in October 2009 will become an essential part of Subic’s investor tour program, serving as a one-stop showcase of Subic Bay’s ICT infrastructure and PLDT’s available and “futuristic” IT solutions for various industries.

During the recent MOU-signing ceremony, PLDT’s Alberto reaffirmed his company’s belief in the potentials of Subic Bay as an ICT hub, and pointed out PLDT’s “tremendous” investments in that sector at the Subic-Clark corridor in the past few years.

In particular, PLDT would like to partner with the SBMA “for globally competitive industries in the areas of cutting-edge health care, retail and trade, tourism, logistics and in the maritime industry,” he added.

“I put my money where my mouth is,” said Alberto, who revealed that he has established a second home in Subic because “in my view, [it] is the place to be in the Philippines.”

Alberto said his firm’s NGN technology, which has “fibered” both the Subic and Clark free ports, has helped increase network coverage and enabled new and innovative services to emerge in the market.

Likewise, Subictel’s Innolab would also allow the public to access “revolutionary business solutions and the latest ICT trends,” Alberto added.

With growing investments in the ICT sector and the entry of IT firms like Texas Instruments and Samsung, the Subic-Clark corridor “will be the more prominent, if not the most prominent, economic corridor this country will ever see in the next five to 10 years,” Alberto also said.

This was the reason PLDT has put up an “aggressive” bid for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway after investing in the North Luzon Expressway, Alberto added.

Armand Arreza (second from right), administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, seals an information-and-communications technology project agreement with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) senior vice president and Subic Telephone (Subictel) chairman Ernesto Alberto, as PLDT first vice president Nerissa Ramos and PLDT Subictel president Dennis Magbatoc look on. Written by Henry Empeño / Correspondent businessmirror.com.ph

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Prof Danny Piano, Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce President, Councilor Ed Piano, Chairman of Olongapo City Telecom and IT Board, and Hon ...

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Olongapo City Subic PLDT SMART Innolab

LAUNCHING OF PLDT SMART INNOVATION LABORATORY AT SUBICOLONGAPO CITY

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Subic Freeport eyed as top ICT center in RP

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Seeing the potential of this premier Freeport becoming the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) flagship of the Philippines, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is teaming up to make this vision into a reality.

PLDT Subictel President Dennis Magbatoc said the two corporations have agreed in principle in promoting Subic Bay’s ICT capabilities that would directly compete with the country's ICT leaders like Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Laguna.

The two companies, including the PLDT’s subsidiary Subic Telecom (Subictel) will be signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) next month to seal the deal.

Magbatoc said the agreement would pave the way for tripartite collaborative projects that would benefit the Subic Bay Freeport’s ICT industry.

PLDT’s most recent P40-million ICT investments here would be the prime projects that the group would develop. Among these projects are the fiber optics cable that connects Subic Bay to Manila and the rest of the Luzon grid, along with the P20-million Innovation Laboratory (InnoLab) that was unveiled last year by Subictel.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said the P20-million Innolab will be included in the itinerary for potential investors visiting Subic Bay.

He said that Subic Bay’s IT and telecommunications infrastructure, available and soon-to-be-offered telecoms solutions that cater to business process outsourcing (BPO) operations, retail and manufacturing businesses, and even the hotel industry, will be staged at the Subic Innolab, the fifth such PLDT facility in the country.

“With this one-stop IT center, the SBMA will get to showcase the IT aspect of doing business in Subic, on top of its other strengths like strategic location, tax and duty-free perks, highly-skilled manpower, superb support industries and infrastructure, and a highly secured and tourist-friendly environment,” said Arreza.

“When it comes to IT support, we now have everything and anything you need,” Arreza added, referring to the “fully loaded” theme of Subictel’s Innolab. By JONAS REYES - Manila Bulletin

Prof Danny Piano, Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce President, Councilor Ed Piano, Chairman of Olongapo City Telecom and IT Board, and Hon. Armand Arreza talked about the latest in telecommunications in Olongapo City Subic Bay Freeport.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTT2jCWf7Lw

Information technology will enable and ennoble the people

The importance of developing information and communications technology (ICT) in the country to enhance its global competitiveness said Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.).

Gordon, in his keynote address at the 7th Youth Congress in Information Technology, said information technology (IT) would equalize the opportunities for people and give voice even to the most marginalized sectors.

"Napakahalaga ng computer industry sa panahon ngayon. IT will equalize the opportunities for people. That is what IT will bring to all of us. It will enable and ennoble the people. Magkakaroon tayo ng boses," he said at the annual conference organized by the University of the Philippines Information Technology Training Center .

"Speed and information are the names of the game. Kung mabagal tayo, matatalo tayo ng ibang mga bansa, mapag-iiwanan tayo," he added.

Recognizing the importance of IT in the country's development, the senator co-sponsored Senate Bill 2546, which proposes to create a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The DICT shall serve as the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, regulating and administrative entity of the executive branch of the government that will plan, promote and help develop the country's ICT sector.

Gordon explained that the DICT would maximize the country's gains on the IT sector. He added that he has used modern communications technology in the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), which paved the way for faster and more efficient delivery of relief services.

For some years now, the PNRC, which he chairs, has been using mobile phones as early warning system, reaction system, and initial life-saving system during emergencies.

In line with his modernization programs for the PNRC, Gordon launched the Red Cross 143 and created an Operations Center equipped with computers and televisions. The operations center is also connected to all PNRC chapters for prompt response to emergencies.

The senator also said that modern communications technology could be an effective tool in promoting democracy, particularly through the computerization of the 2010 Elections.

Gordon, father of election modernization in the Philippines and author of Republic Act 9369 (Amended Automated Election System Law), said that poll automation will not only elevate the country's electoral exercise from third world to world-class but also bring credibility to the elections system and in the leaders of the country.

Subic ICT talents raring for the big time

SUBIC BAY FREE PORT—While Subic Bay remains outside the initial development spheres for the budding Philippine information and communications technology (ICT) industry, the area has been producing a growing talent pool that is now raring for recognition in various fields of the knowledge-based industry.

Industry experts in Subic told the BusinessMirror in exclusive interviews recently that local IT professionals have become proficient over the years and could now compete with some of the country’s best.

“Name it—systems development, database management, biometric solutions, web design, multimedia development, outsourcing and consulting —and the locals can do it,” said John Carlo Nova, president and chief executive officer of Victa Solutions, an IT firm based in Olongapo City that won an award for best website in the 11th Philippine Web Awards held in February.

The web site www.mistosmagsaysay.org, which was designed for Zambales First District Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, won in the celebrities and personalities category, besting the official web sites of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and broadcast journalist Daniel Razon.

“The Subic Bay area is teeming with capable and talented individuals, and should some investor put up any ICT/BPO/KPO business in the locality, there is no doubt that local talents can fill the manpower needs,” Nova added.

The 26-year-old Nova, who has a degree and an academic excellence award in computer science, has kept faith in the capability of local talents by hiring talents straight out of a local computer school.

“Most of our developers are graduates of the Comteq Computer and Business College because this is the only school which provides solid IT instructions in the Subic-Olongapo City area,” Nova explained.

“Comparatively speaking, students and graduates of Comteq display more than competence; they are good in team efforts, they understand the need for promptness with their deliverables, and they have high morale, which results in tension-free work even when there is pressure,” he added.

For the Magsaysay web-site project, for example, Victa Solutions tapped several programmers and developers from Comteq to beef up the firm’s technical staff. These included Comteq instructors Jov Mark Felarca, who helped out in planning, concept development and project management; Ryan Macaspac, who assisted in research and development; and Anjo Catindig, who executed graphic design and animation.

Two Comteq students, Ederson Lim and Paul Ameer Jaime, meanwhile, assisted in Web development.

“The task for the web-site design concept was handed down to us with no specific instruction regarding color scheme and design, so the design team really had to brainstorm for two concepts and then decide later which had the better look and feel,” Nova recalled.

“When it was announced that we won the best design, we were really surprised because we knew we were up against some of the most competitive sites there were in the celebrities category,” he said.

Comteq administrator Ansbert Joaquin, meanwhile, revealed this was not the first time that their students shone in the field of ICT, pointing out that another team, headed by Comteq’s Felarca, became the overall winner in Globe Telecom’s G-Cash competition last year.

“The Subic Bay area is actually brimming with ICT talents, despite the apparent disinterest of big companies to invest in the area,” Joaquin said.

“Because of this very sad situation, the best talents in Subic are pirated out of the area by companies in Manila or even those based abroad,” he added.

Among those who have been successfully wooed out of Subic, Joaquin said, are Comteq graduates who have designed and developed software for FedEx’s Asia hub loading and destination planning system; computer generated images for the Subic-based Idess Interactive Technologies; point of sale and payroll systems for various Subic locators; data systems for Meralco, United Coconut Planters Bank and Global Steel Philippines; as well as banking solutions software for the Slovenska Sporitelna (Europe) Bank.

Earlier, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has noted that the Subic Bay area has lagged in attracting investments in BPO and knowledge-based industries.

According to SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, Subic has to provide additional incentives to pioneering knowledge-based industries for the free port to make a significant presence in the burgeoning Philippine BPO market.

Arreza added that the SBMA will now work with local schools to enhance their ICT curriculum and initiate the development of an IT park within the free port.

Nova and Joaquin said these developments are what local talents have been waiting for.

“There was a time when they lamented that investors in ICT were most willing, but the manpower supply was weak. Now the reverse may be true,” noted Joaquin.

“Today local ICT talents are raring to prove they’re among the best there is, but there is simply a shortage of opportunities to showcase their skills and abilities,” he added. Written by Henry Empeño - Business Mirror

New incentives for Subic-Clark investors

RP-Taiwan meet inks four accords, launches incentives for Clark, Subic investors — Meco

Antonio Basilio, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) managing director and resident representative, said among the highlights of the 16th RP-Taiwan Joint Economic Conference (JEC) last week was the signing of four major trade and investment agreements between the Philippines and Taiwan namely: an memorandum of understanding on Philippine-Taiwan Cooperation on Industrial Technology Development; an MoU on Small and Medium Enterprise Food Development; an MoU on Intellectual Property Cooperation; and an MoU on Standardization and Conformity Assessment for Electronic Products.

At the luncheon meeting hosted by the Philippine delegation headed by Trade Secretary Peter Favila on Feb. 12, an entirely new set of investment incentives uniquely packaged and formulated to meet the evolving requirements of Taiwan’s high-technology companies was launched.

“The package includes unprecedented incentives for Taiwanese companies, and presented various development opportunities within the Clark and Subic Bay economic corridor. The package is designed to compete with current offerings by the Vietnam government to Taiwanese players.

“This set of incentives, never before offered to any foreign locator in the Clark-Subic economic corridor, is also designed to fill existing gaps in the Philippines’ electronics and information and communications technology (ICT) value chain,” said Basilio.

Basilio said another highlight of the JEC was the holding of the 21st Joint Meeting of the Chinese-Philippines and the Philippine-Chinese Business Council, while the Philippine Investment Seminar was held on Feb. 11, organized by the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Meco.

Clement Yang, chairman of the Chinese-Philippine Business Council, delivered the opening remarks while Valentin Khoe of the Philippine-Chinese Business Council provided the response during the event. Chairman Tomas Alcantara of Meco and PCCI chairman Miguel Varela also delivered their remarks during the affair.

Basilio said the plenary session and seminar proper focused on a number of investment opportunities including high-yield tourism, investing in the Philippine economic corridor, the RP-Taiwan ICT industry collaborative ventures, sectoral investment opportunities, and renewable energy.

Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo gave his presentation on investment opportunities in the Philippine tourism development together with Philip Chao, deputy director of the International Affairs of the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan ’s Ministry of Transportation.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza presented the Master Plan of Development in the Subic Bay Free Port while Benigno Ricafort, president of Clark Development Corp. (CDC), delved on the Master Plan of Development in the Clark Free Port.

Meanwhile, on the topic of RP-Taiwan ICT Industry Collaborative Ventures, Arthur Young, chairman of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines gave an overview of the Philippine electronics and semiconductor industry while Dr. Gwo-Jiunn Huang, fellow of Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry, focused his presentation on the ICT industry.

Discussions on Exploring Sectoral Investment Opportunities particularly on aqualculture and agriculture were spearheaded by Philip Ong, president of Santeh Feeds Corp., and Dr. Cheng-Wei Chen, associate professor of the Department of Agriculture Economics, College of Bio-Resources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University.

For renewable energy, Felix Velasquez, president of Bataan Manufacturing Co. Inc. and Phillip Cheng, president of Cosmo Electronics Corp., spoke about investment prospects in the country.

An open forum followed the presentations after which Vice Minister Sheng-Chung Lin of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Secretary Favila gave their closing remarks. PNA

Subic hosts ICT convention

The Subic Bay Freeport, identified recently as one the most viable information technology hubs in the country outside Metro Manila, is hosting starting today (Nov. 27) a two-day convention on information and communications technology (ICT) to help consolidate stakeholders in the booming industry.

The event, which includes a trade exhibition that will run until Nov. 30, was organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in close collaboration with the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SBCCI).

The convention and exhibit will be held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) under the theme "E-nnovative Governance: the SubIcTech Formula."

Plenary speakers include Oscar Saez, president of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP); Monchito Ibrahim, commissioner of the Cyber Services Group, Commission on Information & Communications Technology (CICT); and Ma. Lourdes Mediran, deputy executive director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).

Guest speakers, meanwhile, include Sen. Richard Gordon, Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Berroya of the Department of Transportation and Communications, and Buhay Partylist Rep. Ma. Carissa Coscolluela, who chairs the Bataan-Olongapo- Zambales Educational Development Organization's Information Technology Council.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said that the convention and exhibit is expected to attract experts, industry leaders, and key decision-makers in the ICT sector.

"With this event, we aim to consolidate stakeholders in the ICT industry, so that the country, including Subic, can really take off as a world-class provider of ICT services," Arreza said. "This is a booming industry, and we must have the necessary facilities to grab a big chunk of the growing market," he added.

Arreza said the ICT industry, considered as one sector with some of the most high-paying jobs in the country at present, experienced a growth rate of 70 percent from 2000 to 2005.

In 2005, he added, the Philippines was considered a location of choice because of relatively less expensive operational and labor costs, making it one of the top 10 BPO destinations worldwide.

The potentials of the industry include Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), and other creative E-services like software and hardware development, wireless application, digital animation and games, Arreza added.

He also said that the new ICT trends, like E-commerce the groundbreaking way of doing business through the Internet, and using telecommunications and computing tools for marketing and business exchange is currently revolutionizing ways on how business and governance should be done.

As for the Subic Bay Freeport, Arreza said the SBMA recently upgraded ICT facilities here to meet emerging demands in the industry.

"Subic is now ready with the required infrastructures, as well as a talent pool, to be a major player in the ICT business," Arreza said. Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX

SUBIC ICT CONGRESS STARTS TODAY

The first Subic ICT Congress will start 9am today with the ceremonial ribbon cutting by Mayor James Gordon of Olongapo City and SBMA Chairman Salonga, this will be followed by Fr. Mozo blessing the exhibitor's booths and the venue of the event.

The two day event will be held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

The 1st Subic Bay Information Communications Technology (ICT) Congress was borne out of a need to bring together the significant stakeholders in the ICT industry for the purpose of creating a technologically-advanced gateway for trade and an information and communication technology hub for business exchange.

It also aims to showcase the Subic Bay Freeport, recently acknowledged as one of the emerging ICT hubs in the country, as the premier ICT investment destination and global outsourcing center. It will also present ICT opportunities to local government units (LGUs) and empower them to create their own revenue stream through this progressive industry. The event with the theme “SUBICTECH: e-NNOVATING BUSINESS & GOVERNANCE” will focus on this fast-paced field and its sub-industries such as the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and the more universal Knowledge Process Outsourcing which are prime propellants of the nation’s economy. It will also highlight the vast potential of the Subic Freeport as a vital frontier for innovation, service outsourcing and ICT investment promotion.

The congress will take place on November 27 to 29, 2008 and will feature top executives from the country’s leading BPO/KPO firms, vendors, suppliers and the various stakeholders as resource speakers for the plenary sessions which will be held at the modern Subic Bay Freeport Trade and Exhibition Center. A three-day exhibition and trade fair will run concurrently with a series of related meetings and plenary activities and will also highlight a job fair for the ICT and ICT-enabled industries.

BOZE DO-IT Chairman Jay Pena Son and officers of the organization will be inducted during the event. For more information, please visit http://www.ictsubic.com/

Meanwhile....
National ICT conference formed
by Coun. J. Batapa-Sigue

Iligan City - Information and communications technology (ICT) councils, organizations and federations recently agreed to solidify their support and initiatives for the success of the ICT and outsourcing industry of the Philippines.

Ten major groups representing various cities and provinces all over the country trooped to Iligan City for the first ever National Summit of ICT councils on November 25-26 hosted by Iligan Information and Communications Technology Council (IICTC) and the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT).

The newly-formed National ICT Conference of the Philippines (NICP) was conceptualized by IICTC, Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for ICT (BNEFIT), Inc., Metro Clark ICT Council, Quezon City ICT Council, Albay ICT Association (AICTA), Iloilo Federation for IT (IFIT), Cebu Educational Development Foundation for IT (CEDFIT), Cagayan de Oro ICT Council, ICT Davao, Inc., and ICT Solutions Association of Region 12-General Santos City (ISA12GENSAN).

CICT Commissioner Monchito Ibrahim challenged the local stakeholders to concentrate on the areas of human resource development, business environment and public-private sector partnerships to help achieve the national goal of generating one million jobs and USD13 billion revenues in the IT-BPO sector by 2010.

Iligan Mayor Lawrence Cruz and IICTC Chair Emmanuel Lagare welcomed the participants to the 2-day event aimed at bringing together the organized ICT Councils and ICT stakeholders and players to strengthen networking, coordination and camaraderie among them.

The theme of the Summit is: "Advancing Philippine IT-BPO Competitiveness: Networking of Local ICT Players for the National Effort."

The NICP believes that with the guidance of CICT, the local government units can contribute directly to the unified vision of the national government in providing investment and employment for the people.

A technical working group composed of Lagare, Bacolod Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, BNEFIT chair, and Bonifacio Belen, Executive Director of CEDFIT, was created to formulate the working policies and objectives of the group subject to approval of all its members. Aside from those present in the summit, the CICT identified other councils such as Dagupan ICT Council, Urdaneta City Council for ICT (UCC-ICT), Cagayan Development Foundation for IT (CADFIT), Olongapo Zambales Subic Educational Development Organization for IT, Laguna Industry Network for Knowledge, Innovation and Technology (LINK-IT), Bohol ICT Council and Technology of Information and Communications in Koronadal (TICK).

The participants were able to share their strategies in their localities, understand the constraints and success factors of other locations, and learn from each others experiences. The NICP agreed to hold its next year's summit in Clark-Subic Corridor and Bacolod-Iloilo Cyber Region in 2010. (PIA Negros Oc)

To meet investment goal, Subic wants IT parks

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, aiming to attract a total of $7.5 billion in investments by 2010, is promoting development of information technology (IT) parks in the Subic Bay Freeport, northwest of Manila, SBMA administrator and chief executive Armand Arreza said.

So far, investments in the free port have reached $5.7 billion, he said. In the first half of 2008, Subic attracted $212 million in investment pledges, he added.

“Subic’s port, shipyard and logistics facilities are well known but Subic is not yet known as an IT hub,” Arreza said. “It would be very good for us to also establish presence in this area.”

Arreza said the SBMA was negotiating with a Taiwanese group and a Dubai-based group that could each develop an IT park in Subic.

“The Taiwanese group is more interested in digital content and biotechnology, while the Dubai group is considering developing space for outsourcing companies, maybe call centers,” he said.

The two IT parks would entail about $40 million in investments, of which about $15 million would go to land development, he said.

About 19 hectares of land has been allocated for IT park development at Subic, he said.

The SBMA will host an ICT forum in November, he added. By Riza T. Olchondra - Philippine Daily Inquirer

ICT to spur growth in LGU

As the industry rapidly grows, more ICT Tier 2 cities such as Subic are ramping up marketing campaign geared towards attracting ICT locators . .

A newly released report said local government units (LGUs) should turn to ICT to address the employment needs of their citizens in the face of a projected economic slowdown for the country.

ICT research firm XMG said it expects the total ICT industry employment in the country to hover around 340,000 to 360,000 before the current year ends.

Of this figure, more than 70 percent will be located in Metro Manila, the research firm said.

XMG estimates an additional 310,000 to 340,000 people will be needed through 2010 to meet ramp-up demand as expansion plan and global pipeline deals close.

LGUs, it said, are now faced with an opportunity to attract large ICT operators by providing tax breaks, infrastructure, and telecommunications development and customized incentives to lure both captives and non-captives.

Based on the latest XMG Employment Lifestyle Index conducted in Q2 2008, an average agent working in the ICT industry would have a basic salary ranging from R13,000 to R21,000 depending on experience, type of skill, account, and site location.

Using a typical medium operator that employ between 1,000 to 3,999 FTE as an indicator, XMG estimates an infusion of R42 million into the local economy per month from basic salaries alone.

The index also show that 42 percent of the income is spent on food, 14 percent on housing, 12 percent on education, 11 percent on clothing, 6 percent on miscellaneous spending such as gifts and contributions, 8 percent on various recreation, 2 percent on transportation & communication, and 5 percent on others.

From the 42 percent on food spending, more than one-third is spent on fastfood, restaurant, and bar as agents have a relatively higher disposable income compared to a regular day job in the Philippines.

Benedict Ferrer, research manager at XMG, said LGUs should begin to realize the potential economic impact of IT, call center, and BPO companies in their city as a prime mover of development and progress or risk loosing opportunity such as sustainable livelihood provided by the industry directly or indirectly.

"LGUs must first understand the nature of the industry and various underlying variables imperative to attract and market their respective city," Ferrer added.

As the industry rapidly grows, more ICT Tier 2 cities such as Cebu, Baguio, Clark, Subic, and Davao are ramping up marketing campaign geared towards attracting ICT locators, XMG noted.

Most LGUs are now taking this opportunity as a viable source of constant employment in the area as more companies are now forced to relocate or expand outside Metro Manila where cost are manageable and where talent competition is less.

The report recommended that LGUs must understand from the outset the needs of the industry and align their strength and incentives in consummating a strategic partnership with the industry to maximize the growing opportunity the ICT industry have to offer. By MELVIN G. CALIMAG - Manila Bulletin

TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG LEADERS, ISASAGAWA SA JAPAN

Ang Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC) ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ay nagsisimula nang tumanggap ng mga aplikante sa gaganaping Training Program for Young Leaders (TPYL) sa Japan. Ang nasabing training ay may dalawang kategorya: ang Economic Development Category, na gaganapin sa ika 10 hanggang sa ika-27 ng Nobyembre at ang Information Communication Technology (ICT) na gaganapin naman sa ika-13 hanggang ika-30 ng Oktubre 2008.

“Ang oportunidad na ganito ay hindi dapat pinalalampas ng mga kabataan dahil dito, magkakaroon sila ng mas sapat at mas mainam na karanasan at kaalaman upang maging mga susunod na lider ng bayan,” pahayag ni Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr.

Sinimulan ng Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), na siyang magsasagawa ng naturang training, noong 2007 ang pagbibigay ng training sa mga susunod na ‘nation-builders’ ng mundo. Iniimbitahan nila ang mga kabataan upang malinang nila ang kanilang mga kakayanan na magkaroon ng mga bagong kaalaman at karanasan.

Ang mga aplikante ay dapat na 20-35 taong gulang, physically at mentally fit, hindi pa nakapunta o tumuloy sa Japan, may kinalaman sa aaplayang kategorya, preferably, may permanenteng posisyon na sa loob ng dalawang (2) taon at walang kasalukuyang aplikasyon sa ilalim ng isa pang scholarship program.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon o pag-sumite ng aplikasyon, maaring pumunta sa Olongapo City Hall sa Mayor’s Office.

PAO/Don

SBMA to offer free rent to Taiwanese firms engaged in high-tech ventures

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will offer free rent to Taiwanese companies engaged in high technology ventures to encourage more investments in the area, SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said.

"We've been pushing to attract companies in information and communication technology (ICT), software design, biotechnology and the like, and this new incentive is a concrete manifestation of our intentions to build our capabilities and be globally-competitive," Arreza said.

The rent-free incentive was agreed upon during the joint economic conference between Taiwan and the Philippines last week, Arreza said.

He said the new rent-free incentive will help the SBMA realize its long-term "Cyber-Subic" program, which focuses on developing ICT facilities in Subic and roping in investors in the so-called knowledge industries.

The rent-free incentive, which will apply in Subic and Clark free ports, will be good for three to five years and will cover firms that will each commit a minimum investment of $25 million.

The agency has already reserved locations for ICT industrial clusters in coordination with the Subic Bay Development and Management Corp. (SBDMC), owner of the industrial park where most Taiwanese firms in Subic are now located. - Ma. Elisa P. Osorio/Philstar

15 regional ICT hubs to be pushed in e-services forum

The 15 regional hubs will have their own booth exhibits during the e-Services conference. These areas include Clark in Angeles City, Cagayan de Oro, Legaspi, Urdaneta, Subic, Olongapo, Bacolod, Sta. Rosa, Dagupan, Iloilo, Davao, Cainta, Poro Point in San Fernando, Batangas City, Balanga in Bataan, Tacloban, Ibrahim said.

Fifteen regional information and communications technology hubs will be pushed during an e-services forum slated February, a commissioner of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) said.

CICT commissioner Monchito Ibrahim said the 15 regional hubs will take part in the Department of Trade and Industry's annual e-Services Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition as a way to promote these regional areas as potential locations for offshore outsourcing services.
The CICT is coordinating with the DTI Regional Operations Group under undersecretary Carissa Cruz-Evangelista, Ibrahim said.

"We want to let offshore outsourcers realize that it's not just Metro Manila where they can locate but they have a wider choice of locations," Ibrahim said in an interview.

The 15 regional hubs will have their own booth exhibits during the e-Services conference. These areas include Clark in Angeles City, Cagayan de Oro, Legaspi, Urdaneta, Subic/Olongapo, Bacolod, Sta. Rosa, Dagupan, Iloilo, Davao, Cainta, Poro Point in San Fernando, Batangas City, Balanga in Bataan, Tacloban, Ibrahim said.

The cost of the booths will be subsidized by the DTI, the CICT commissioner said.

The e-Services conference and exhibit will feature major outsourcing players across all information and communications technology (ICT) sectors and related industries, according to the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the trade promotions arm of the DTI.

Over 100 exhibitors have confirmed their participation in this year's event, including business process outsourcing firm SPI, Business Process Outsourcing International Inc., Japan External Trade Organization Manila, among others.
( http://www.inquirer.net/ )

PGMA orders BOC to speed up communications tech projects to bolster anti-smuggle drive

PGMA orders BOC to speed up communications tech projects to bolster anti-smuggle drive

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed today the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to speed up the implementation of its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects to bolster its anti-smuggling capabilities.

The President issued the directive during the BOC Revenue Command Conference at Malacañang’s Heroes Hall this afternoon.

The Chief Executive said the BOC should explore the possibility of funding its ICT program through the Millennium Challenge Account and the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) Account, according to BOC Deputy Commissioner for Management Information System Alexander Arevalo.

“Basically, she asked us to look into the possibility of funding a system that would track the inventory of petroleum, first in Subic,” Arevalo said.

The BOC updated the President on the status of its “E-Customs” and “Action Plan through ICT Projects.”

The action plan includes keeping track of the movement of petroleum products and imported vehicles in the country’s ports, inter-agency clearances, permits and tax credit certificates (TCC), the procurement of container X-rays and “executive dashboards” for examiners, district collectors and the BOC commissioners.

Arevalo told the President of the need for a reliable tracking of actual inventory to successfully curb smuggling of petroleum products into the country.

Arevalo said BOC’s strategy is to “account for the last liter of inventory - as petroleum companies do,” and this can be accomplished by deploying a “petroleum inventory management system as used by oil firms.”

As for vehicle smuggling, the BOC said the problem or the “vulnerability” lies in “underdeclaration, misdeclaration, misclassification, misdescription” and “inter-agency gaps.”

To fill the enforcement gap, the BOC recommended the following strategy: “Track all details on each vehicle import permit, taxes paid, registration that is transparent to all agencies involved such as the BOC, Land Transportation Office, Bureau of International Revenue, and others.”

The BOC plans to “deploy a unified Customized Vehicle Import Processing System for all concerned agencies” starting next year.

The CVIPS will be installed in the ports of Subic, Manila and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) by the first quarter of 2008, and the ports of Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro by the second quarter of 2008.

The BOC also reported to the President about the “vulnerability” of “paper-based” permits and clearances coming from other agencies which are faked, tampered, reused; and difficult to account for.”

To overcome these “vulnerabilities,” the BOC plans to “accept electronic permits only” by deploying an “Electronic Permit & Clearance System under the National Single Window.” (PNA)