Aquino announces P500M support for the information technology-business processing outsourcing industry
President Benigno Aquino III announced the approval of P500 million intended for the development of the country’s information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector to prepare the Philippines for the growing global demand.
President Benigno Aquino III announced the approval of P500 million intended for the development of the country’s information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector to prepare the Philippines for the growing global demand.
“I’m happy to announce today that I have recently approved an additional P500 million under our stimulus package for training program to be undertaken by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in partnership with your industry,” President Aquino said in his speech before the participants of the Third Annual International Outsourcing Summit held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza on Wednesday evening.
“We’re doing all of this to match the confidence you displayed in our country and this way, as you’ve chosen the Philippines, so too are we choosing to invest in our people --to add to the arsenal of skills and qualities they already posses in order to have a globally competitive and empowered workforce,” the President added.
The government and the industry are both focused in finding solutions as they build the capacity of the people to be competitive, the President said, to help them increase their chances of being employed in good jobs.
With the new employment being created in the industry it also helps people meet their needs--food, shelter, education and health care, thus improving their lives, the President said, adding that so far the industry has already employed some 500,000.The president thanked the Business Process Outsourcing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) and the industry stakeholders for helping the country create jobs for the benefit of the people.
But the President acknowledged that while the country is considered a competitive player, there are a lot of things to be done to meet the demands of the IT-BPO sector particularly in servicing huge pockets of untapped markets. As a response, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has put programs in place to scale the human resources capability of Filipino workers, which aims to identify potential candidates that could enter the industry, the President said.
The government also has the Next Wave Cities Program to give the opportunity for potential entrants living outside Metro Manila, the President said. Aside from improving the English proficiency of candidates, Tesda allotted P20 million for free training of potential workers, he said.
More than 140 organizations involved in the global IT-BPO industry participated in the discussions on emerging markets, new technologies, and service development during the two-day international outsourcing summit held in Manila.
Organized by BPAP, the summit aims to discuss major issues affecting the industry, including opportunities such as growing acceptance of service outsourcing and the increasingly high value delivered by service providers.
Over 400 delegates and 80 speakers and panelists from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, the UK and the US attended the two-day event held October 11 to 12. (PCOO)
Palace says Ombudsman will have own timetable in prosecuting former President Arroyo
Malacanang respects the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman with regards to the handling of corruption charges to be filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on Thursday.
During the regular press briefing in Malacanang, Lacierda said that by not putting definite time frame in prosecuting the former leader by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales only shows her independence from the executive branch.
“Certainly it’s to show the independence of Justice Carpio-Morales but secondly let me put it in context. We file a case in November before, maybe perhaps the Office of the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman goes through it, evaluates it, appreciates the complaints filed as well as the counter-affidavits,” Lacierda said.
“And if there is a prima facie evidence against the respondents then and only then will she file the corresponding information before the Sandiganbayan,” he added.
In so far as the time table of the Ombudsman, it is beyond the executive branch and it is in Carpio-Morales’ authority to say when she will file the case, before the Sandiganbayan, the President’s Spokesman said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III told the officers and members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in a forum in Makati City on Wednesday that his administration will be filing charges for large-scale corruption against the former leader by November.
The details of the possible charges against Arroyo are still being finalized, President Aquino said.
Efforts to put closure on the unresolved corruption cases against the previous government will soon be bearing fruit with indictments against corrupt officials of the previous administration, the President said. (PCOO)
Career Executive Service Officers to hold Annual conference in November
The Career Executive Service Board (CESB) and the National Union of Career Executive Service Officers (NUCESO) will hold the 2011 Annual Career Executive Service (CES) Conference on November 9-11, 2011, with the aims to discuss the five pillars of President Aquino’s Social Contract with the Filipino People and the role of the Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) in the thrust to effect transformational change among public service leaders.
Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 21 was signed on September 28, 2011 by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. to authorize the participation of all CESOs, Career Executive Service Eligibles (CESE) and Career Service Executive Eligibles (CSEE) in the 2011 Annual CES National Conference to be held at the Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City.
This year’s conference theme is “Taas noo, CESO! Pamumunong Tapat at Wasto, Dangal at Galing ng Serbisyo.”
The conference will also discuss the essential roles of CESOs in ensuring policy and program continuity amidst shifts and political and administrative transition.
"All heads of government agencies, departments, bureaus and offices, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries/units shall authorize their respective officials and employees to attend and participate in this 2011 Annual CES National Conference on official business," the MC said. (PCOO)
