Iloilo City celebrates ICT month
City Mayor Jerry Treñas recently signed Executive Order No. 25 declaring the month of June 2008 and every year thereafter as "information, communications and technology month."
Based on the order, the local government recognizes the role of Information Communications Technology (ICT) as driving force for accelerated development as contained in the National Economic Development Plan of the country.
It also acknowledges the essential need for the promotion of greater public awareness of the importance of ICT in the development of this city.
Treñas said the Iloilo Federation of Information Technology (I FIT) is spearheading the observance of the ICT month, with June 24 to 27 as Information Technology (IT) Week.
I FIT is a multi-sector organization formed in March 2006 composed of members from the academe and training institutions, industry and business, and the government.
They seek to draw investors in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) and promote Iloilo as ICT destination.
Now on its third year of celebration, the IT Week is part of I FIT's "aggressive campaign to make Iloilo a major IT hub," according to I FIT Chairman and University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) Chancellor Glenn Aguilar.
He said through the conduct of IT Week, I FIT aims to raise the awareness of Ilonggos on the latest trends and development in the IT industry – its products, services and businesses in the global market.
This year's theme is "Building Our Future in I.T. Advocacy. Empowerment. Investments."
The celebration will highlight the potential of Iloilo as one of the productive IT centers in the country because of its first-rate human resource talents.
Iloilo is Western Visayas' center of learning and education, and is home to state universities like the UPV and West Visayas State University (WVSU) that generate qualified graduates to work in the ICT sector.
Slated activities during the IT Week are motorcade, exhibits, general membership assembly, jobs fair, IT advocacy seminars and lectures, IT quiz bee for high school and college students, and other competitions.
Working together for the conduct of activities are the Iloilo city and provincial governments, Department of Trade and Industry, educational institutions, national government agencies, and existing IT industry involved in the development of the IT sector.
Mayor Treñas is enjoining every Ilonggo to extend their utmost support and cooperation to this event. (PNA)