The Regional ICT Summit & Exhibitions (RISE) in Zamboanga City marked a historic moment in the Philippines as it was held for the very first time, with 14 speakers and over 250 participants engaging in a collaborative effort between the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and local stakeholders.
This initiative aims to propel countryside development by spotlighting the potential of regional locations for ICT jobs, investments, and opportunities.
The event also emphasized the vital role of local ICT councils in shaping the digital landscape. In a testament to the event's inclusivity, some participants who were unable to attend in person joined the sessions via Zoom and Facebook Live, ensuring broader engagement and knowledge dissemination.
Under the guidance of the Office of the Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development, RISE supports IT-BPM Centers of Excellence, New Wave Cities, and Digital Cities, providing them with a platform to showcase their locations and contribute to building a diverse and inclusive digital ecosystem nationwide.
The event featured insightful panel discussions, including the RISE Plenary Program on IT-BPM & Local Community Digital Jobs Readiness, emphasizing the crucial role of ICT Councils, and a high-level roundtable discussion on IT-BPM industry and Local Community Readiness for Digital Jobs across various sessions.
The launch of RISE by USec Jocelle Batapa Sigue, Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development, was a significant milestone.
The plenary session was graced by esteemed speakers, including DICT Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe, DICT Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa M. Camba, and DICT IIDB Project Development Officer John Jasper Sanchez. Talent Development of the Workforce was expertly discussed by IBPAP Talent Attraction & Development Committee Chair Haidee Enriquez, SeeMeeCV Managing Director David Padgett, ZICT Council President Jehann-Fatima Forro, and ETC-UZ Director Yolynne Medina. Panelists for the Synergy for Success - Call to Action session included NICP Vice President Michael Tiu-Lim, Zamboanga City Councilor Hon. Paul Vincent Elago, Pagadian ICT Council Member Ferlyn Calanda, and Zamboanga Sibugay ICT Council Member Rhea Grace La Plana. The Strengthening of Business Environment was tackled by CCAP Managing Director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury, Intelogix Country Manager Marc Oliver Calumba, Liloy Municipality Mayor Hon. Roberto Uy Jr., and Zamboanga CCI President Atty. Carl Rubio.
Throughout the RISE event, participants engaged in high-level business meetings with key local ICT stakeholders, participated in roundtable discussions focusing on talent, government support, and the business environment, experienced business matching tables with complimentary coffee, explored dedicated exhibition spaces for showcasing companies, took guided tours to IT-BPM facilities, and accessed investment briefing materials.
Looking forward, the next RISE event is scheduled for December 2023 in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu.
