Arroyo cites role of JBLFMU in promoting Iloilo as ICT hub
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underscored the role of the Ronald Raymond Lacson Sebastian (RRLS)-Information and Communications Technology Academy of the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Molo Inc. (JBLFMU) in promoting this city as a center of information and communications technology (ICT).
President Arroyo arrived at the JBLFMU noontime yesterday as part of her weeklong “Cyber Corridor Tour” where she also observed classes on computer literacy and English efficiency courses being offered for call center agents.
In her message before some 2,000 student-audience, she explained that the Cyber Region was “designed to spread developments away from an inequitable concentration in Metro Manila.”
“The cyber corridor was identified by the private sector academe and government of finding the strongest, actual and potential locations for ICT investments like call centers, software development, medical transcription, engineering design, animation and games development,” she said.
“And I dare say that one of the factors why Iloilo has been identified as a great potential for BPO investments is your ICT Academy. I would like to congratulate you for that,” she added.
The President said her visit to the “first and only private maritime university of Southeast Asia” was to showcase the institution’s ICT education.
“I also understand that you will soon offer visual graphics design and technical drafting courses that’s why it is essential that I visit you in the course of the cyber corridor tour,” she added.
The JBLFMU, through the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship (PGS), trained some 400 aspiring call center agents, 252 of them have been employed.
The hiring rate impressed the President as she cited that such score is 10 times more than the national hiring rate which is six percent.
“While we are a maritime university we have been producing highly competent ICT professionals. We are duly proud and blessed that you Madam have supported 400 PGS for call center agents,” Dr. Marylou Lacson Arcelo, the chair of the JBLFMU Board of Trustees, said. “Your presence here today is a validation of our achievement as well as your very own achievement.”
“We were honored by your presence. In behalf of the scholars thank you Madam for your assistance. In behalf of the RRLS, thank you very much for your support and confidence,” she added as she likewise expressed the institution’s support to President Arroyo’s programs “to elevate the Philippine competitiveness in the global market.”
The JBLFMU has been in the business for seven years offering TESDA-registered courses such as two-year programming NC IV, call center course, finishing course for call center agents NC II and medical transcription.
Likewise, it offers short-term proficiency courses like word processing, spreadsheet application, presentation package and adobe photoshop.
The President during her tour was accompanied by Secretaries Augusto Syjuco of the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), Ricardo Saludo of the Reconstruction Commission, CICT Chairman Rey Chua, Press Secretary Jun Icban, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez Sr, Negros Occidental Rep. Iggy Arroyo, Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias and local officials of Iloilo.
The President immediately proceeded to Bacolod City after her Iloilo engagement. (Perla G. Lena, PNA
