ICTs are vital to disaster management–Angara

In times of calamity and disaster, information and communications technologies (ICTs) can be used to deliver basic services such as decision-support systems for the agricultural and rural sectors, and improve health-care delivery to poor and far-flung areas.

Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara of Aurora province called on different stakeholders during the recent ceremonial launching of the Second National ICT of the Philippines (2nd NICP) Summit held at the Fort Stotsenburg Hotel here.

“The Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering [Comste] recognizes the significance of ICTs in delivering basic services…which also recognizes the need to implement these projects through public-private partnerships, where government need not spread thinly [and therefore ineffectively] already-limited resources and can tap into the varied and thriving expertise of the private sector,” Angara said.

At least 4,000 delegates are expected to attend the 2nd NICP Summit and Convergence 2009 from November 5 to 7 at the Fontana Convention Center.

The 2nd NCIP Summit 2009 and Convergence 2009 is a back-to-back event organized by the National ICT Conference of the Philippines and spearheaded by Clark Development Corp. (CDC), the Metro Clark ICT Council and Cyber City Teleservices Inc.

The two events be will be attended by a wide variety of sectoral members of ICT in academe, ICT-related business industries and related investment projects in the country, and is supported by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology. It is sponsored by Peregrine Global Gateways, ComClark, the Savers Group of Companies, Cyber City and CDC.

Organizers include the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Clark Investors and Locators Association, the Philippine Society of Information Technology and Educators and Fontana Leisure Parks.

“I am particularly glad that the 2nd National ICT Summit has asked me to speak on global ICT opportunities and supportive government policies on ICT. This is exactly how we work in Congress and in Comste: Finding ways to leverage global experiences, technologies and opportunities with our own assets and, at the same time, provide an environment in the government where both the private and public sectors of society can be competitive,” Angara said.

“When Congress created the commission in 2007, we immediately identified IT and IT-enabled industries as one of the major players in the Philippines’ struggle for global competitiveness, identifying the IT sector as an important ‘enabler’ of many other sectors in society, especially in science and technology,” Angara added.

Metro Clark ICT council chairman George Sorio said the event will also include track sessions featuring various CICT initiatives and talks from key players in the business-process outsourcing and information-technology industry and in recognition of the important role of the ICT in advancing today’s growing business activities here and abroad. Written by Jacob Cunanan / Business Mirror Correspondent