MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2016
1st ICT Summit in CDO marks growing BPO industry
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Cagayan de Oro ICT Council together with partner stakeholders held the first Information and Communications Technology (ICT) summit in Cagayan de Oro City on 23 June 2016 to welcome growing Information Technology - Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry in the city.
With the theme “Bringing BPO to the Southern Hub,” the summit aimed to showcase the city’s potentials and promote CDO as a (BPO)-ready sector inviting potential ICT/BPO companies to invest in the city. CDO ICT Council president Stephanie Caragos said that ICT is important in this period of rapid change which is already driven by technology. “Having ICT as a tool is one of the most vital assets of an organization, therefore using technology is key to the success of our organizations,” she said. A number of investors have already flocked in the city as Cagayan de Oro was declared as among the next wave city in 2015. “Very soon, Cagayan de Oro city as a next wave city will be facing an even greater challenge preparing for the inevitable growth of the IT BPO industry,” Caragos said. Challenges of the ICT industry in CDO
Filipino workers are considered as “global knowledge workers” as they are able to compete at the highest levels among the best in the world. This is why nine cities from the Philippines are included in the top 100 outsourcing destinations. Two of these cities even made it to the top 10: Metro Manila (2nd) and Cebu (7th). Although CDO is part of the next wave cities, it was not included in the top 100 outsourcing destinations. However, Ernie Tomas Jr., chief of the Investments and Promotions of Mindanao Development Authority, said that they are working to enhance the competitiveness of the ICT sector in Mindanao. “As we transition to the new administration, we are optimistic that Mindanao’s development will be given more focus and attention,” he said. The summit is in line with the celebration of June as ICT month. (Hazel Mae Pacturan/PIA10)
43 job seekers get hired in ‘Alay sa Graduates’ job fair ILIGAN CITY – A total of 43 applicants were Hired-OnThe-Spot during the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Lanao del Norte’s ‘Alay sa Graduates’ Job Fair held at Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU- IIT) Gymnasium on 2-3 June 2016.
DOLE Lanao del Norte Head Remegio D. Cabañog reported that MSU-IIT’s Alay sa Graduates Job Fair is intended for their recent graduates to land a job. “Their pre-employment seminar was conducted on 30-31 May 2016, while the Mock Job Interview and Employers’ Forum was on 1 June 2016,” he added. Cabañog said that some 32 local companies with 1,000 job openings such as nurses; medical technologists; dadiologic technicians; engineers; system analysts; information technologists; warehousemen; electricians; plumbers; masons; carpenters; janitors; bakers; cooks;
bartenders; security guards; tutors; supervisors; managerial positions; quality control analysts; safety officers; service crews; clerks; teachers; accountants; collectors; inspectors; call center representatives; among others. Other government agencies also rendered frontline services to the applicants like Social Security System; Philhealth; Pag- ibig Fund; and the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) of Iligan City. MSU-IIT was headed by Dr. Sukarno D. Tanggol and its Guidance Services staff. (Joseph Nathan J. Fabrega, DOLE-X LDNPFO)
DICT exec cites competent talent needed in BPO industry CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – An official from the Department of Information Communication Technology (DICT) during the launching of the ICT Skills Training and Internship Center in Cagayan de Oro City on 23 June cited among the challenges in the Information Technology – Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector is the availability of competent talent. Deputy Executive Director Monchito B. Ibrahim, eInnovation Group of DICT explained that there are many jobs unfilled because we lack people who have the skill.
He said that Cagayan de Oro is becoming one of the IT-BPO hubs in the country and among the top 10 next wave cities. This means that the city is open for business and has the
qualified people to work in the industry. He added that the BPO sector does not just comprise call centers but also include financial accounting, legal and health transcription, and virtual assistance, among others. He said the IT-BPO sector contributes 9% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. Meanwhile, Mindanao Cluster II Director Evamay Dela Rosa shared that it’s not enough to provide trainings alone but connect our trainees to entities who are looking for workers. That way, we will not only be able to address the need of the trainee for employment, but also the need of business entities in finding employees that matches the skills required. She added that in the BPO sector, according to IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), the hiring rate is only around 5-10%. This means, of the 100 applicants, only around 5-10% are hired citing communication skills as one of the factors. There are around 500 thousand jobs available online waiting for takers. Dela Rosa explained that if residents here qualify for these online jobs, they no longer need to go to faraway big cities to leave their families for work. This will not just benefit the families but the local economy as well, she said. Further, the center already has the 1st batch of trainees to begin this month. She said the training is free; trainees must only complete the
modules and be serious about it. According to Dela Rosa, aside from the trainings the center can also cater to individuals who need to do government transactions online such as online application for NBI clearance among others. The center is complete with 20 computers sponsored by the Filipino and Chinese Love and Care Foundation through the help of Asus Technology Philippines. Dela Rosa also said that this is in partnership with RIS Philippines. For his part, Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno lauded the launching of the center. He said this will provide more opportunities for employment in the city. However, he reminded regulatory bodies to safeguard online transactions so that no one will be taken advantage of. For interested applicants (group or individual), please visit the DICT office at Toribio Chavez St., Cagayan de Oro City or call them at (088) 8801761. (JMOR/PIA10)