News & Blogs

By Mai Gevera

Davao City — Small and medium enterprises in Davao City may now easily simulate, test, and hold technology solutions fit for their business with the setting up of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) Innoport.

The Innoport is a portable version of the Innolab or Innovation Laboratory which is the central technology hub for small and medium entrepreneurs to match and test solutions right for their business.

“We are bringing in our Innolab through setting up Innoport in key cities of the country. We want our SMEs easily find access to the various business solutions that our company is offering to help their businesses.” said PLDT SME Group Head Katrina Abellarde.

The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc (DCCII) is one of the many partners of the PLDT in promoting SME Nation. Its main goal is assist private businesses by providing technical assistance to SMEs in the city.

PLDT considers Davao as its most formidable partner seeing a very encouraging response from the local SMEs. Abellarde shared that most of the SMEs briefed about the PLDT products were usually surprised and excited to apply such solutions in their own business systems.

Data showed that about 10,000 SMEs in Mindanao have started integrating such technology to improve their business management.

DCCCII President Simeon Marfori considers this partnership as a major leap in terms of providing better services to their membership.

“I believe most of our SMEs still need to be aware of these business solutions,” he said.

SME Nation has gathered about 50 partners nationwide and it continues to aim for a globally competitive SME community through advanced usage of ICT.

Abellarde announced the company’s move of introducing new and improved business solutions this month. (PIA XI)

By Mai Gevera

Davao City  — Department of Tourism XI now focuses on the cultural uniqueness of the Davao region.

“Think Davao first.” This was the statement of DOT XI Regional Director Sonia Garcia as she urged Dabawenyos to appreciate the historical roots and diversified growth of the region.

DOT XI is holding DUHWOW: carving the shared history and advancing the cultural uniqueness indigenous to the Davao Region, Now and Beyond.

It is a thematic exposition which will unfold in the two galleries of the Museo Dabawenyo starting this month until July.

DOT has partnered with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in this cultural-education and heritage-promotion of the Davao region.

It aims to raise the cultural literacy among the diverse population. The exhibit will pinpoint significant windows in the shared history and common heritage of the people.

The exposition will be participated by seven mini-exhibitions to be co-anchored by a particular local government unit.

This month, the shared roots and diverse developmental routes of the undivided Davao will be showcased.

March is for the local history and the empowerment of the deputies in the most-livable Davao City.

On April, the province of Davao Oriental will show its cultural heartland, landmarks, lifestyle, and living treasures.

Davao del Norte will showcase its expanding business hub and advancing gateways in eco-cultural adventures on May along with Davao del Sur’s wealth and wonders.

Compostela Valley will have its turn to show the centuries of gold on June while the culminating exhibition focuses on the present Davao region—celebrating its cultural diversity and multi-polar developments. (PIA XI)

by Prix D Banzon

Davao City — The IT-BPO stakeholders of Davao City are taking the challenge of attracting ICT locators here.

Wit Holganza, president of ICT Davao Inc. Has asked the private and public sector partners to put their acts together in addressing this challenge.

She said they welcome the challenge of increasing the City’s competitiveness by working on improving their performance in the area of business environment and risk management in order for the city to attract locators.

“We need to act together in improving the overall imagery of Davao City as a safe IT-BPO destination by providing substantive evidence to counter the negative perception on the Mindanao region,” she said.

She said doing such they can continue to attract more ICT investments, create more jobs and improve Davao City’s economy.

The other locations that made it to the Top 10 Next Wave Cities for IT-BPO were: #1 Metro Laguna, #2 Metro Cavite, #3 Iloilo, #4 Davao City, #5 Bacolog, #6 Angeles-Clark-Mabalacat, #7 Baliuag-Marilao-Meycauyan, #8 Cagayan de Oro, #9 Malolos/Calumpit, #10 Lipa. (PIA)