The recently concluded Go Tech Cebu: ICT/BPM Summit organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce Industry (CCCI) highlighted Cebu’s position as one of the country’s major and established hubs for the ICT/BPM industry with more areas for sustainable growth.
Cebu has been considered a “center of excellence” for information and communication technologies and business process management (ICT/BPM) with hundreds of ICT/BPM companies and thousands of full-time employees, according to Mr. Jack Madrid, President and Chief Executive Officer of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines.
Mr. Madrid, the keynote speaker on the first day of the ICT/BPM Summit, expressed his optimism for the ICT/BPM industry as a driving force of investment and as a catalyst for inclusive growth that encourages countryside development.
For his part, Mr. Michael Cubos, Director of Performance 360 Global Services Inc., identified some potential growth areas to help sustain the industry, including tapping high-value non-voice services and SMEs and engaging the support of the government for holistic legislation.
After his talk, he moderated a Cebu BPO Roundtable Discussion with Mr. Madrid and Ms. Joslyn Canon, Qualfon Director for Community Relations, who both engaged in a productive dialogue on the challenges and opportunities in Cebu’s BPO Industry.
The Go Tech Cebu: ICT/BPM Summit, which was held at Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu on June 16–17, 2022, is one of the events of the highly-anticipated Cebu Business Month (CBM) 2022, CCCI’s annual flagship event that carries the theme, “Go Cebu: Realign, Reinforce, Rebuild.”
“Hence, the summit aims to address urgent issues in the ICT/BPM sector to realign its initiatives with its considerable potential, reinforce its ability to proactively respond to crises, and rebuild its pathways through strategic mechanisms and innovative tools,” Ms. Catherine Curato, CBM 2022 ICT/BPM Co-chair.
On behalf of Mr. Ryan Tan Yu, CBM 2022 ICT/BPM Chair, Ms. Curato addressed the first-day participants — BPO stakeholders, technology-driven businesses, and established innovators — who filled the entire conference room that throbbed with excitement over the industry’s bright prospects.
Mr. Charles Kenneth Co, CCCI President, assured the public that the Cebu Chamber is committed to helping raise further the quality of Cebu’s ICT/BPM industry whose growth from being a small sector into a huge industry in a matter of a few years is “rooted in hard work, innovation, perseverance, resilience, and an eye for opportunities.”
Hosted by Ms. Mikee Morado, Chief Marketing Officer of Aerophone Enterprises & Co., on the first day, the Go Tech Cebu: ICT/BPM Summit — which Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama praised for being an effective convergence and meeting of minds — featured highly esteemed speakers and startup innovators.
The speakers shared their insights and success stories on managing risks, empowering the workforce, scaling up businesses, current trends and future opportunities, innovation, and sustainable growth.
Ms. Zara Andales of PLDT Enterprise Product Management and Marketing punctuated how strengthening key areas in business operations can transform companies to be smarter, more relevant, and more resilient. In this talk, Mr. Edcel Paglinawan, Head of Product and Innovation at Eastern Communications, focused on how innovation and technology can be maximized and proactively used to empower workforces amid the heightened use of the internet in the past 30 years.
Mr. Jan Martin Encina, Associate Director and Head of Information Security Governance and Operations of Maya Business, shared about the future of digital payments and their impact on one’s future. Ms. Maricel Brion-Lirio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Filinvest REIT Corp., focused on sustainable office spaces and the future of work and assured that her company will continue to champion innovative techniques to maintain a highly competitive and attractive portfolio of commercial development.
Mr. Paul Sears, Senior Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services, focused on how businesses can grow through innovation in customer service. Ms. Mae Bernardo, Head of Customer Service of igloocompany, shared insights on the innovative turn taken by Cebu’s real estate sector and how businesses can be sustainable through digital solutions.
Mr. Ephrem dela Cerna, President of Seaversity, emphasized how education can be a business solution that could pave the path to innovation. Mr. Nathan Ray Gamban, Chief Operating Officer of King Properties, pointed out how having a clear definition of goals and responsibilities can be significant in innovative governance to empower businesses to adapt to generational changes.
Mr. Bryan Tañagras, Chief Technology Officer at Klassik Group of Companies, focused on innovation in today’s workforce and how there is an open community that exists to support business growth. Ms. Chris Nicole Orcullo, SAP Solutions Architect at Fast Track Solutions, presented how cloud technologies can help businesses innovate and adapt to the post-pandemic era.
Ms. Queene Rose Dionaldo, Founder and Managing Director of Bizhero.ph pinpointed innovation as the only way for businesses to thrive. Mr. Neil Clyde Kho, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Green Table, noted how agriculture is adapting to technology and becoming more resilient in today’s market.
The Cebu Business Month 2022 is presented by Filinvest Land Inc., PLDT Enterprise, Smart Communications, Inc., and NUSTAR Resort, and co-presented by Cebu Landmasters, Inc., Maya Business, Angkas, and IPI, with platinum sponsors Arthaland Corporation, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Pacific Air, Converge ICT Solutions Inc., Eastern Communications, Qualfon Philippines, and SB Finance.
The Go Tech Cebu: ICT/BPM Summit is made possible through its event sponsors: Amazon Web Services, Golden Prince Hotel & Suites, Mataverse, Inc., QBE Group Shared Services Limited-Philippine Branch, Unisol (Uniform Solutions), Xeleqt Technology Innovations Inc., and Aerophone PH, and media partners: Alcordo Advertising, Bizhero.ph, Inews.ph, Mataverse, and RMA News. For more information about CBM 2022, contact the CBM Secretariat at (63 32) 232-1421 to 24, email at info@cebuchamber.org or cbm@cebuchamber.org, or visit any of the social media accounts: www.cebuchamber.org, instagram.com/cbm.ph, and facebook.com/CebuBusinessMonth.
