Next wave cities roadshow opens in Butuan

By Fryan E. Abkilan

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) - The two-day ICT Roadshow in the Next Wave Cities in Butuan City official opened Thursday morning, Sep. 19 at Almont Inland Resort.

The event, which will run until Friday, Sep. 20, carries the theme: “Bringing ICT Oppurtunities to Countryside Filipino Talents.”

City Councilor Ramon Carampatana who represented City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. welcomed the participants of the event.

“It is an honor to be included in the list among the most competitive cities in the country. More jobs will be coming in and more Butuanons will be employed,” said Carampatana.

Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Technology (DOST-ICTO) deputy executive director Monchito Ibrahim bared that Butuan City is the fourth stop of their roadshow, which aims to raise awareness on the Information Technology – Business Process Management (IT-BPM) Industry.

“It likewise aims to bring career opportunities to stakeholders, particularly those available in their own locality and encourage them to engage in ITpreneurship,” he said.

Ibrahim then acknowledged the potential of Butuan City as the next wave city. “If we can do it any other cities in the country, I do not see any reason why we cannot do it here in Butuan.”

Talks and testimonials throughout the activity include the Information Technology Business Process, INational ICT Confederation of the Philippines, preparing to land a job in the IT-BPM industry, IT-BPO Industry and the Next Wave Cities and IT-BPM Industry presentations.

The Next Wave Cities play an important growth of the IT-BPM industry in the country as there is a multitude of talent that can be found in these high-growth areas, it was learned.

The activity is organized by the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology together with the Caraga Information Communication Technology (ICT) council, city government of Butuan, Information Technology – Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP). (FEA/PIA-Caraga)