Secretary Roxas-Chua named ICT Individual Contributor of the Year at International ICT
Awards
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Manila, Philippines (7 April) -- Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Secretary
Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III was awarded as ICT Individual Contributor of the Year by the recently-concluded
International ICT Awards Philippines 2010, organized by the Business Processing Association of the
Philippines (BPAP) and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Roxas-Chua was recognized among Philippines' top achieving individuals and companies in the BPO Industry.
He was cited for being actively involved in leading, promoting, facilitating or assisting companies in the
business process outsourcing sector (BPO) in the Philippines for the year 2009.
While receiving award, Secretary Roxas-Chua paid tribute to the men and women of the CICT as this has
spearheaded programs to enhance the country's ICT infrastructure, put in place a favorable investment climate
and strengthened the country's ICT talent and manpower pool.
A true champion of the ICT since his appointment in 2007, Sec. Roxas-Chua stated, "This award is a testament
to the whole ICT industry in general and to the CICT and its employees, whose singular focus and work has
spurred the industry's rapid growth and accelerated the sector's contribution to the Philippine economy."
Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) President and CEO Oscar Sañez acknowledged
the contributions of Secretary Roxas-Chua, saying:
"Secretary Roxas-Chua has led the effort for all the marketing missions the industry embarked on across six
different international markets last year. He had been the most fervent champion of Philippine O&O with all the
important audiences that the industry caters to, whether they are the international prospects, the major
consultants in the industry, the CEOs of major companies or the local ICT Councils as part of the BPAP Next
Wave Cities promotion in the Cyber Corridor program."
No stranger to achievements, Sec. Roxas-Chua has created strategic partnerships with the private sector as the
Philippines has emerged as one of the world's top BPO destinations.
In 2009, the National Outsourcing Association of the United Kingdom named the Philippines "Offshoring
Destination of the Year" for the second time in three years. The country's industry has successfully moved up in
the BPO value chain by going into new, higher value-added domains such as business analysis, financial
services, accounting, software development, architectural and engineering design, animation, and game
development.
By year-end 2009, the BPO industry had created around 442,000 jobs and generated annual export revenue of
7.2 billion US dollars. While the bulk still comes from voice-based customer contact solutions providers, the
higher value-added BPO services have made strides and begun to make significant financial impact on the
country's BPO export earnings.
Apart from serving as the Chairman of the CICT, Secretary Roxas-Chua is also the Development Champion of
the Cyber Corridor Superregion and Outsourcing Czar.
As Development Champion, Secretary Roxas-Chua has made the development of "Next Wave Cities" within the
Cyber Corridor a priority of the CICT. He has succeeded in generating stronger government support for the
industry, from no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It was under Secretary Roxas-Chua's tenure
when direct government subsidy was obtained to fund the industry's strategic programs and projects.
Together with BPAP and the Department of Trade and Industry, these "Next Wave Cities" are alternative
locations for BPO investments outside Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. These cities include Metro Laguna, Metro
Cavite, Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod, Metro Pampanga, Metro Bulacan, Cagayan de Oro, Central Bulacan and Lipa.
Aside from its involvement in the development of the country's BPO industry, the CICT has also been
implementing the iSchools project, which provides computer laboratories with Internet access to public high
schools. This will provide high school students with the ICT skills in today's increasingly ICT-competent
workforce.
To date, the CICT has delivered 680 computer laboratories to public high schools, 487 of which have Internet
connectivity. The CICT is the process of connecting the 193 unconnected schools through satellite broadband
Internet and delivering another 320 computer laboratories by June 2010. The iSchools project was a recipient of
the Digital Inclusion Award at the FutureGov Government Technology Awards 2009.
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Emergency employment program gives jobs to over 10,000 in Western Visayas
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Iloilo City (7 April) -- Some 10,140 individuals in Western Visayas were employed under the Comprehensive
Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of the government, as of March 12, 2010, according to
National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Director Agnes Miranda.
In her report during the recent meeting of the Regional KALAHI Convergence Group (RKCG) in Western Visayas
held in Iloilo City, Miranda said that these underemployed and unemployed individuals have found jobs in the
various CLEEP projects. These projects were undertaken by former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and
national government agencies such as Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Labor and
Employment, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, Department of
Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and
Department of Trade and Industry.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has assigned former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales as the CLEEP
steward for Panay and Guimaras, tasked to ensure and oversee the implementation of identified CLEEP
programs in the areas.
These CLEEP projects include stevedoring, clean and green project, Out of School Youth Towards Economic
Recovery (OYSTER) roadside maintenance, Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD),
Integrated Services for Livelihood Advancement of Fisherfolk (ISLA), Cash for Work, Bantay Dagat, Bantay Gubat,
Upland Development Projects, One Town One Product (OTOP), Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Eco-tourism
(GREET), livelihood projects, and other emergency employment projects such as construction of farm-to-market
roads.
During the same period, Miranda said jobs generated under the program in the region totaled 7,658 with
P977,011,579 already obligated for the CLEEP projects.
Throughout the country, Miranda said the emergency employment program of President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo has generated 218, 466 jobs and employed 436,322 Filipinos, as of March 12.
Some P13.740 billion have been allotted by President Arroyo to fund the CLEEP aimed to protect the vulnerable
sectors from the negative impacts of the global financial crisis last year.
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MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES AND SENATE WARMLY WELCOME AMBASSADOR GAA
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The Maryland House of Delegates and Senate warmly welcomed the visit of Ambassador Willy C. Gaa during
separate sessions of the two houses aimed at “renewing and reaffirming long-standing ties.”
After being introduced by Delegate Kris Valderrama to the House of Delegates during the session chaired by
Speaker Michael E. Busch, Ambassador Gaa underscored the special relations between the Philippines and
the United States strengthened through Maryland and its legislators.
Delegate Valderrama of the Prince George’s County 26th Legislative District, is the first Filipina-American to be
elected to the Maryland House of Delegates.
At his address to the House of Delegates, Ambassador Gaa cited historic ties, saying “The Philippines and the
United States – through the great State of Maryland – share a history founded firmly on values and principles that
we hold dear to our heart: democracy, freedom and the right to self determination.”
“Senator Millard E. Tydings – a former member of this House – sponsored legislation that granted
independence to the then Philippine Commonwealth,” explained Ambassador Gaa during his address to the
House of Delegates.
“Today, the Philippines is a thriving democracy and a sovereign equal of the United States that continues its
march towards greater peace, progress and prosperity,” stressed Ambassador Gaa.
Prior to the address, Ambassador Gaa met the Honorable Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House of
Delegates of the State of Maryland.
After addressing the House of Delegates, Ambassador Gaa was also recognized by the Maryland State Senate.
Ambassador Gaa was introduced by State Senator C. Anthony Muse.
At both the House of Delegates and State Senate, Ambassador Gaa was received with ovations.
“The State of Maryland is important to the Philippines. Apart from our historic ties, there is a thriving Filipino-
American community in the state contributing positively to the socio-economic development of the State of
Maryland,” Ambassador Gaa said after the sessions.
“We also have Filipino teachers and nurses in Maryland whose experience and expertise allow them to
contribute to growth in Maryland and in the Philippines,” added Ambassador Gaa. END
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Ambassador Willy C. Gaa meets Speaker Michael E. Busch of the Maryland House of Delegates to renew ties
based on shared history and values. Ambassador Gaa presented Speaker Busch with the book “Joined by
History,” a commemorative publication by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Philippine-US
relations. After being introduced by Filipina-American Delegate Kris Valderrama, Ambassador Gaa addressed
the House of Delegates chaired by Speaker Busch. In his address, Ambassador Gaa underscored the historic
ties that joined the Philippines and the United States, through the State of Maryland.
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PGMA creates team to monitor reconstruction work for typhoon victims
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A Reconstruction Monitoring and Evaluation Team (RMET) will be set up under the Special National Public
Reconstruction Commission (SNPRC).
Under Executive Order No. 870 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last March 16, the RMET will
implement the newly established Reconstruction and Monitoring Evaluation System (RMES) which will:
--“Provide a comprehensive system for monitoring the funding, expenditure, and progress of reconstruction
programs and projects, including performance and results;
--“Involve program/project stakeholders, including government implementing agencies at the national and local
government level, non-governmental organizations, private sector companies, funding agencies, beneficiary
communities and sectors, and other interested groups;
“Regularly report performance and results to the President, stakeholders, and the general public; and
--“Provide a listening post to receive and address complaints. “
Funding for the RMET will be sourced by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) from the General
Appropriations Act and/or external donations raised by SNPRC.
SNPRC, which is the government clearing house for international aid for victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng,
mostly in Luzon, last year, will submit quarterly RMES progress reports to the President . These reports will form
the basis for DBM to evaluate the different reconstruction programs and projects before releasing funds to
implementing agencies.
SNPRC is chaired by Finance Secretary Margarito Teves while its private sector partner, the Philippine Disaster
Recovery Foundation (PDRF), is chaired by PLDT Group chairman Manuel Pangilinan.
The SNPRC Secretariat is headed by Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo.
To date, SNPRC/PDRF has raised an estimated $5 billion.
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DENR cites geodetic engineers in East Visayas as important partners in environment
protection
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Tacloban City (April 8) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources hailed the Geodetic Engineers
of the Philippines (GEP), Inc. Eastern Visayas Division, as an important partner in carrying out the department's
mandate of environmental protection and natural resources conservation.
In his keynote address delivered during the GEP's 35th Annual Regional Convention held last March 25-26,
2010 at the Asia Convention Center, DENR Regional Executive Director Primitivo C. Galinato Jr., stressed that
the Department has always been counting on the expertise of geodetic engineers (GEs) in land surveying.
"Geodetic engineers' role in surveying, mapping and cartography helps us in our actions and decisions towards
the management and disposition of public lands," RED Galinato said.
RED Galinato disclosed the important milestones in land disposition such as the signing into law of RA 10023
– An Act authorizing the issuance of Free Patents to residential lands by Pres. Gloria Arroyo.
"With this law, landowners will no longer go through the long process of titling through judicial proceeding or
buying their land from the government through sales patent," he said.
Also, recognizing that professional merit is necessary in addressing environmental issues such as climate
change, RED Galinato called on the geodetic engineers to be champions of the environment.
"Geodetic Engineers could be instruments in bringing about tangible changes that will save our planet and
make it safe and secure for generations to come," he added.
Finally, RED Galinato lauded the association for providing services for one of the most important social and
economic asset, the land. As partners, he urged the geodetic engineers to continue demonstrating competence
in land surveying and be consistent in practicing ethical behavior.
"Let error-free surveys become shining testaments of the professional excellence that you have established
during the past 35 years," he stressed.
This year's GEP Convention was anchored on the theme "Building the Edifice of Professional Excellence." The
GEP Inc. Eastern Visayas Division was established in 1975. It has a total of 153 members to date.
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