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A Regional Competitiveness Committee (RCC) sets up in eight different provinces and key cities in the country, including Cebu, to gather economic data about provincial communities, and how these fare when compared other Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) cities.

The committee is a public-private sector body created to develop strategy for the long-term competitiveness of the Philippines through policy reforms, project implementation and monitoring performance among others.

The RCC network—which includes Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban City, General Santos City, Davao City, Batangas City, Legaspi City, Iloilo City and Cebu— is expected to be in place by June.

The creation of the RCC paves way for the country to be more competitive as each region, city or province would become aware of their strengths and weaknesses. The information of each region, city or province can guide improvements on their individual competitiveness and the whole country’s competitiveness.

The RCC would benefit Cebu because it would become a venue for the stakeholders to work together and gather the economic data according to indices which include basic economic information like population, wage rate, infrastructure, and quality of life, education, safety and health, cost of doing business, and the human resources available here.

The workshop aims to create and sustain a group of experts in the country for future activities such as communities of practice and other common endeavors.

Dubbed as “IPv6 Unleashed: the 2nd Philippine IPv6 Conference and Training workshop”, the event will gather IPv6 experts, technical users, policy makers and decision makers in the country, as well as international counterparts  to share their work experiences and best practices on the use of Internet Protocol technology.

Expected speakers for the said event are IPv6 experts from Malaysia, Japan, China, and other South East Asian countries.

The event serves as a kick-off activity for the upcoming event “IPv6 Launch 2012,” which will happen on June 6, 2012 to celebrate the 2012 World IPv6 Day.

This joint effort is aided by the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), a regional internet registry in Asia and one of ASTI’s training partners, through technology updates and technical knowledge capability building.

This is a project of the Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), in cooperation with DOST-Regional Office VII, DOST-Information and Communication Technology Office (ICTO), the National Computer Center (NCC), and Central Visayas Information Sharing Network (CVISNET).

Program, workshop outline and on-line registration is available at the ASTI Trainings Website. 

The Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (CEDF-IT) pledges to strengthen the academe-industry linkage to improve recruitment, in response to the escalating demand for information technology, business process and knowledge process outsourcing jobs in Cebu City, Philippines.

The main thrust of the organization is to help the academe turn out high school and college graduates whose skills and talents meet industry requirements.

“The demand is growing. We still need to prepare our graduates especially that companies here are diversified and each has specific requirements . Although CEDF-IT has already helped bridged the gap of the academe and the industry, we cannot simply rest on our laurels. These companies are banking on Cebu’s huge and rich talent pool.

We need to constantly upgrade and equip our graduates with the right skills and knowledge so they could adjust or keep up with the demands of these companies,”

– JUN SAA, Executive Director, CEDF-IT

Established in March 2001 during the Cebu IT Summit, CED-FT forged partnerships with various industries and universities in Cebu and has now aligned with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for grants on various training programs on technical and non-technical skills trainings.

In aiding companies recruit the right personnel, CEDF-IT promotes the Philippine IT General Certification Exam (Phil IT GCE), a two-hour online exam, similar to PhilNITS, an IT certification exam that is recognized by many countries in the world.

The Phil IT GCE is a hundred-item, multiple-choice exam that consists of 20 percent easy, 60 percent average, and 20 percent difficult questions.

Phil IT GCE is an overall evaluation of the graduate’s level of cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning as specified in BS Computer Science; BS Computer Engineering; BS Information Technology; and, BS Information Management curricula, as well as the graduate’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes pertinent to advanced or latest trends in IT as required by industry.

The Phil IT GCE is offered twice a year and is now being applied by Cebu’s major universities. Companies may use the result of the exam even in the preliminary selection of applicants.

The Cebu Investment Promotions Center earlier announced the expansion of eight new international companies into Cebu this year.

These firms mostly perform knowledge process outsourcing operations and are hiring for skilled individuals for medical billing, data mining and medical encoding jobs.

Full Time Employee Outsourcing – Recruit the best staff for cost-effective projects!

Source:

Cacho, Katlene. CEDF-IT PLEDGES TO CONTINUE
 BUILDING ACADEMY-INDUSTRY LINK.
 15 April 2012. Sun Star Cebu. Accessed April 2012.
 Link Here.

The demand for sharing information to build leads and attract customers is what drives the global boom in digital advertising and marketing management solutions.

Businesses now look into having integrated platforms to manage marketing campaigns across digital media channels and formats including in-stream video, fan pages for their brands, products and services.

The advertising and business process outsourcing industries in the Philippines is now helping clients worldwide to find cost effective solutions to acquire and use new technologies and online media for their business marketing needs.

Online advertising is rapidly growing with the introduction of new gadgets and tools. Companies normally spend 15% to 20% of marketing budget on online advertising.

The advent of smart phones in the market has also contributed to the growing popularity of mobile advertising.

Businesses who want to increase website traffic and sales should look toward dynamic, flexible and eye-catching display ads.

Browsers exposed to digital media ads are three times more likely to end up on a website to seek information about products or to complete a purchase.
Adding a video to the banner can boost website visits six-fold.

Businesses seek to maximize return of investment for every marketing dollar.

By investing in more engaging experiences powered by digital media and video, businesses increase the odds that consumers will spend valuable time with their brand.

For today’s consumers, a hard sell approach isn’t effective anymore. Studies have proven that consumers trust their peers more than marketers.

Businesses have to engage with their consumers through social and mobile media.

Technologies can be the answer for entrepreneurs who need to engage the modern consumer. Without the quickness of technology, businesses face risk of closing shop.

Rather than find out what a business can do with certain types of technology, an entrepreneur can find out what technology can do for his business.

Also, entrepreneurs can sell their products better if they socialize with their consumers, getting to know them well and know how to catch their attention.

Businesses should know how to use social media to get users to interact creatively and talk about their product. The social media type of sell is experiential and engaging.

After social media, entrepreneurs should advertise vide mobile. The new consumer is increasingly digital and media-rich. They want instant access and are constantly connected. They want to learn things on their own but can only spend an average of 15 minutes at most to be attentive.

The challenge for entrepreneurs is to be able to deliver a satisfying, impressive consumer experience within those 15 minutes.

Full Time Employee Outsourcing - Digital Media and Mobile Advertising Solutions by Filipino Professionals

New York-based integrated digital advertising solutions provider, MediaMind announced its expansion in Cebu, Philippines and to double its employee pool this 2012

For clients in media and creative advertising, and publishing, Media Mind provides an integrated platform to manage campaigns across digital media channels and a variety of formats, including rich media, in-stream video, display and search.

The company’s decision to expand the service center in Cebu, Philippines, stems from positive experience over the past year and the rich supply of creative talents here.

“The high-quality technical experience and knowledge of local employees combined with the central location of Cebu enable us to provide round-the-clock support to leading advertising brands worldwide,”

– TAMIR ATAR, Vice president for online support, MediaMind.

According to Ian Haigh the company’s director for support, Cebu operations lead the provision of the services of its growing clients worldwide.

“MediaMind is looking to hire the best and the brightest web experts in the country. Customer support is a key differentiator for us. By operating a sophisticated service center in the Philippine, we are able to provide our customers worldwide the real-time support they have come to expect from us. While our other hub offices in Asia are limited only to their areas, the Philippine operation is a global facility that serves all clients in the world with its 24/7 customer support.”

– IAN HAIGH, Director for support, MediaMind

At present, MediaMind platform runs digital campaigns for 11,000 brand advertisers annually in 75 countries across the globe.

Full Time Employee Outsourcing – Staffing solutions for small-to-medium enterprises!

Sources:

1. Dagooc, Ehda. "MediaMind expands Cebu operations"
 9 April 2012. The Freeman. Accessed 9 April 2012.
 Link Here.

2. Cacho, Katlene. "Digital advertising company
 plans to expand operations in Cebu."
 8 April 2012. SunStar Cebu.
 Accessed 9 April 2012. Link Here.

People are not just ‘assets,’ they are human beings who must be encouraged to think independently. Without people, a company has nothing. It should be “People first before profits.”

These are the words of Howard Behar, a recognized management mentor who worked as a senior executive at Starbucks and helped mold the coffee company’s corporate culture into a prosperous people-centered one.

Behar compels aspiring leaders in business, in government, in the corporate world or in the academe to show people care, build trust, hold accountability, and know one’s identity and keep to one’s convictions.

Behar believes that if leaders regard employees and customers as creative human beings, everything else about the business will take care of itself.

“If you think of your staff as people (not assets or labor costs), they will achieve results beyond what is thought possible. And if you think of your customers as people you serve (not sources of revenue), you’ll make a deep connection with them, and they’ll come back over and over,”

– HOWARD BEHAR

These days, it is becoming more and more about relationships and connecting, thus Behar prioritizes the importance of personal leadership.

“It is people—in the best of times, and especially in the hardest times—who will inspire you, sustain and grow your organization, and get you through.

It is people who have the creativity, energy and passion to move us forward.

Even if financial resources are at hand to ease your business (whether from investors, banks, the government, good internal management, or family), it’s not going to make any difference if everyone isn’t committed, creative and purposeful about where you’re going … we need people’s creativity, which means doubling down on taking care of people…”

– HOWARD BEHAR

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Cebu, Philippines – A Silicon Valley based capitalist, John Kim, recognizes Cebu’s community of technology experts, whose concepts and works have good potential in the global commercial market.

Cebu is developing its own venture capital market to make the province a legitimate information and communication technology hub, a bid to becoming Asia’s “Silicon Valley.”

Despite several calls for local businessmen to enter into the VC culture, Cebu still has to embrace in this new idea in maximizing technology and talents by providing talented “geeks” enter into entrepreneurship, in partnership with a capitalist’s company of VC.

Venture capitalists, like Kim, are entrepreneurs who will take advantage of a good concept and offer to fund the idea, as well as market the product.

Ideas for start-up businesses that could be funded through venture capital would not only limit to Information Technology (IT) related start-ups, but it would fund feasible ideas from grassroots organizations, or those business concepts that are produced by students.

Kim recognized the serious need for Cebu to develop the culture of VC, in order not to waste the rich supply of talents here, at the same time encourage the upcoming technology developers to enter into techno-preneurship.

Kim is impressed of the capability of Cebuano talents in developing programs, and software, and even innovative web applications.

Kim plans his next project, a facility that encourages such talents to pursue technology-entrepreneurship. Kim further emphasized that Cebu’s potential in growing its technology advantage need to have a community of VCs.

In a separate interview, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) chairman for BPO-IT committee Jerry Rapes acknowledged that what’s missing in Cebu right now is the serious development for VC community.

“We need more people, capitalists in Cebu to start investing in technology. Although, it is not that simple, but we can learn from successful VC companies in Manila, and even in other countries,”

JERRY RAPES, Chair, BPO-IT Committee, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI)

Businessmen had been encouraged to embrace the VC concept, as this is one of the measures that indicate the maturity of an ICT industry.

Cebu cannot take off as a BPO and IT hub if there are no strong support from the local venture capitalists.

Full Time Employee Outsourcing – Hire the Best Professionals in Cebu, Philippines!

SOURCE:
Dagooc, Ehda. "A Venture Capitalist in Cebu".
21 March 2012. The Freeman.
Accessed 23 March 2012. Link Here.

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A Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) survey held this February 2012 reveals seven (7) IT-BPO that must be urgently addressed to ensure that the BPO Philippines industry benefits from trhe growing international demand for its outsourced services.

The chief business development concern is AVAILABILITY OF PROFESSIONALS (1) with the right skills for knowledge process outsourcing (KPO).

Non-voice, complex outsourcing services are the fastest-growing segment of the Philippine IT-BPO industry. This is a positive development that presents the Philippines’ potential as a provider of high-value services.

In general skills, ENGLISH COMPETENCE (2) remains the top concern.

This year’s survey introduced a new skill area, VALUES AND WORK ETHIC (3), and it resonated with respondents as important as the ability to speak English. Executives are concerned with emotional maturity of their employees.

As BPO Philippines expands KPO capability and service delivery, executives believe A DEEP ACADEMIC-INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP(4) ensures talent supply.

The Philippines IT-BPO Road Map 2011-2016 calls for LIBERALIZATION OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING (5) to allow institutions to prepare students for careers in IT-BPO.

The industry is already working closely with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education.

Concern over PERCEPTION AND BRAND VISIBILITY (6) of the industry also increased. This signifies the importance of positive perception of the industry and the opportunities it provides among students and the people who influence them, especially parents.

This year’s survey showed some easing of concern over INVESTMENT INCENTIVES(7). This shows that BPO companies see that government policy makers understand the industry and will do whatever necessary to sustain investment.

Full Time Employee Outsourcing – Hire the Best Staff for Small-scale Projects!

 
Source:
Hamlin, Michael. "IT-BPO on a roll."
21 March 2012. The Manila Bulletin.
Accessed 23 March 2012. Link Here.

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The Philippines is in the best position for expansion in non-voice services and catch up with India as a leader in non-voice business process outsourcing.

This forecast has been announced during the Asia CEO Forum last March 15 at the DusitThani hotel in Makati City, Philippines.

The Asia CEO Forum is the largest networking activity organized for multinationals and local business leaders. Some 150 leaders of top business organizations were in attendance.

The Asia CEO Forum focuses on key issues that cut across various industries and promotes the Philippines as a leading business destination in Asia.

“The Philippines is certainly ready for non-voice services. It is already demonstrating its capability for non-voice activities, be it Information Technology engineering service offering support, animation, human resources and knowledge process outsourcing.

There are companies that specialize only in non-voice.  I would expect the Philippines to grow well in this market in relation with India.”

– DAVID RIZZO, President for Asia-Pacific of Teleperformance.

Teleperformance has its largest English contact operations in the Philippines.

“Our growth strategy is continue to focus on the Philippines being a premier solution for English language offerings for our markets in the US, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. We are identifying new field locations across the country to support the expected growth of demand in market.”

– DAVID RIZZO, President for Asia-Pacific of Teleperformance.

Living in the Philippines for nine years, Mr. Rizzo also oversees Teleperformance’s operations in China, India, Vietnam and Singapore. The company is positive on its growth prospects here, confident in the efforts of the government and the private sector to address the labor supply lack.

“Fortunately, there are industry association groups like the BPAP (Business Process Association of the Philippines) that are going through the appropriate channels to bridge the gap and ensure that the pipeline is extended,”

– DAVID RIZZO, president for Asia-Pacific of Teleperformance.

The Philippine government plans to introduce two additional school years in the basic education system, with emphasis on English education. This develops the annual available labor supply beyond what it is today.

A growth in non-voice activity would help the Philippines grab a bigger share of the global outsourcing and off-shoring industry. The Philippines last year overtook India as leader in call center services in revenue and employment.

Research company Everest Group estimates the Philippines’ contact services to have earned USD7.38 billion in exports last year, surpassing India’s USD7 billion.

The Philippines’ call centers employ about half a million, compared to India’s 350,000.

Full Time Employee Outsourcing – Hire the Best Professionals in Cebu, Philippines!

 
Source:
 "Philippines Poised For BPO Leadership".
 18 March 2012. The Manila Bulletin.
 Accessed 22 March 2012. Link Here.

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Mutual business relations between the Philippines and South Korea are anticipated to be dynamic, as the Philippines have taken great strides in being the third major investment destination by companies in South Korea.

South Korea is one of the two largest investors in the Philippines today, with ship construction, power generation, manufacturing, and electronics as among the four major South Korean investments in the Philippines.

To sustain this economic partnership, KOTRA, South Korea’s government investment and trade agency, hosts the Philippines-South Korea Development/Business Partnership Forum this March 2012.

“[South] Korea is now the Philippines’ fifth largest trading partner and third largest investor. Also, the Philippines is Korea’s third most attractive investment destination in South Asia,”

– JOHWAN CHOI, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Manila Director General and Korean Embassy Trade Commissioner

The forum aims to advance economic cooperation between South Korea and the Philippines, which was the heart of the talks between South Korea President Lee Myung-bak and President Benigno Aquino III during President Lee’s state visit to the Philippines in November 2011.

South Korean and Philippine government top brass will discuss the Philippines’ current investment environment and deliver presentations on developing mutually beneficial partnerships in infrastructure, agriculture, and natural resources.

Full Time Employee Outsourcing – Hire  the Best Professionals in Cebu, Philippines!

SOURCE:
Cahiles-Magkilat, Bernie. "RP Becomes
Korea's Investment Choice." 19 March 2012.
The Manila Bulletin. Accessed 22 March 2012.
Link Here.