Iloilo Foundation for Information Technology (I-FIT) Answering the Call of Outsourcing
IFIT's 1st Board Meeting at UPV Audio-Visual Room
on September 28, 2006. (From R to L): Dr. Glenn
D. Aguilar, Dr. Adrian A. Arcelo, Mr. Boy Bawal,
Engr. Dads Cadena, Mr. Ben Jimena, Mr. Mario
Nillos, Ms. Lorena Yunque, Mr. Rodney Gicana,
Mr. John Lorenz Belanio, Mr. Jessraf Plamares,
Eng. Roly Gambol & Velma Jane C. Lao
Seven months from its inception, the Iloilo Foundation for Information Technology (I-FIT) elected its Board of Trustees during its Organizational Meeting on 22 August 2006 at the Board Room of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol followed by the election of officers on 28 September 2006 at University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV).
Elected to a two-year term are the following: Chairman - UPV Chancellor Dr. Glenn D. Aguilar; Vice-Chairman -- DTI-Iloilo Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr.; Secretary -- TESDA-Iloilo Provincial Director Lorena T. Yunque; Treasurer -- JBLCF Vice-President Adrian A. Arcelo; Auditor -- Microsoft Sales Operation Director Boy Bawal and WVCST ICT Coordinator Roly Gambol was appointed as the Interim Executive Director of the Foundation.
For the Committees, the following are the chairpersons: Finance Committee -- Hon. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, represented by Executive Assistant Mr. Ben Jimena; Membership Committee -- WVSU President Dr. Lourdes Arañador, represented by Institute of ICT OIC Mr. John Lorenz Belanio; Institutional Linkages Committee -- CPU President Dr. Juanito Acanto, represented by Mr. Rodney Gicana; IT Technical Committee -- WVCST President Dr. Luis Sorolla and co-chaired by IBM President Joaquin Quintos IV, represented by Ms. Charis Divinagracia; Planning & Marketing Committee -- Bayantel Marketing Head Mr. Jessraf S. Palmares and Elections and Amendments Committee -- Hon. Governor Niel D. Tupas, represented by Provincial Planning Head Mr. Mario Nillos.
IFIT's Organizational Meeting at Iloilo Provincial
Capitol Board Room on August 22, 2006. Attended
by the Founding Members (academic,
industry/business and government sector) who
signed the Commitment to Support IFIT during the
Summit held last June 14, 2006.
The Iloilo Foundation for IT had its beginnings on March 2006 when the participants, composed of the heads of the educational institutions, industry and government, responded to the challenge posed by "Answering the Call of Outsourcing", a forum organized by DTI-Iloilo. Since then, the visionary and enthusiastic leaders went through the process of focused group discussions and brainstorming sessions facilitated by Executive Director Bonifacio Belen of Cebu Educational Development Foundation for IT (CEDF-IT). The reason for this was to organize Iloilo's version of an academe-industry-government collaboration similar to that of Cebu's. This synergy paved the way to the conduct of the First Iloilo IT Week held at SM City on June 13-17, 2006.
The vision-mission of Iloilo Foundation for Information Technology as the premier development partner for world-class Information and Communication Technology Human Resources (ICT HR) anchored on industry standards shall be attained through its objectives:
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To establish I-FIT as a recognized and functional organization by the end 2006.
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To establish ICT HR baseline data on the demand and supply situation by 2007.
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To implement three (3) ICT HR regular training programs addressing critical skills by 2008.
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To implement certification standards and assessment instruments by 2011.
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To produce 1,000 ICT globally-competitive graduates annually by 2011: 60% BPOs, 40% IT services.
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To achieve at least 100 members in the foundation by 2008.
For the remainder of 2006, I-FIT shall undertake the following major activities:
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Register the foundation with the Securities and Exchange Commission
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Organize a Symposium and Strategic Planning Workshop
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Initiate the ICT Human Resource Baseline Study
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Create an Inventory of IT Expertise in Iloilo
Other activities in collaboration with the local government units and agencies include:
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Logo-Making Contest through Digital Imaging for the Slogan "Iloilo City: The Next Big Thing". Contest rules on the logo-making contest shall be disseminated within the week.
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TESDA and WVCST's Scholarship Program on software development and 2D animation which will be launched on the 3rd week of October 2006.
I-FIT's office will temporarily be at the:
Office of the Chancellor/Chairman, I-FIT
University of the Philippines in the Visayas, City Campus
General Luna St., Iloilo City
For inquiries and secretariat services, kindly contact:
I-FIT Secretariat
c/o DTI-Iloilo
DTI Bldg. J.M. Basa-Peralta Sts., Iloilo City
(63-33)5098222