THE LAST 3 days of May were exciting days for Naga and the ICT industry in the Bicol Region.

Starting with a Regional ICT Summit and Exhibitions (RISE Region 5) at the Alingal Multipurpose Hall in Ateneo de Naga University on May 28, two more ITC-related events followed in the next two days in the same venue with participating IT students from other colleges and universities in Bicol, industry leaders from here and Manila, as well as innovators and educators. 

The 3-day IT event was organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in collaboration with the City Government of Naga, the Ateneo, and various private IT stakeholders.

On that first day, Mayor Nelson Legacion delivered the welcome address with emphasis on creating 28,000 jobs by 2028, fueled by the growth of the IT-BPM industry in Naga.

Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, DICT Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development, shared the importance of Making Academe, Government, and Industry Collaborate (MAGIC) in the advancement of the IT industry.

The second day was the Digital Innovation for Women’s Advancement (DIWA) conference. No less than Vice Mayor Nene De Asis, best known for the advancement of women’s rights and gender development was the welcome speaker.

It aimed to unite women leaders from diverse sectors, underscoring the need for more women representation in the ICT industry.

DICT Undersecretary Sigue, along with DICT 5 Regional Director Rachel Ann Grabador, shared a common advocacy of leveraging women’s roles in ICT and promoting gender equality.

On the third day, at the same Fr. Alingal Hall of the Ateneo, Councilor Joe Perez, SP committee chair on trade, investment, and economic enterprises, gave the final welcome address on the concluding Digital Careers Expo.

He stressed the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in Naga plays a pivotal role in the economic advancement of the Bicol region.

“We have our various institutions that offer ICT-related courses and training programs. These range from basic computer literacy to advanced courses in software development, cybersecurity, and data science, “Perez said. He added that “Local universities and colleges often collaborate with tech companies to ensure that their curricula are aligned with industry needs.”

He also disclosed that the city government Nag City has a Startup incentive program that provides scholarships and financial assistance to students and young creatives and innovators. “The Naga City Investment Board, the Naga City ICT Council, and the Sangguniang Panlungsod, through the SP Committee on Trade and Investments, are taking lead roles in the promotion and full nurturing of this program which today had already extended financial and technical assistance to young startups and innovators from different schools in Naga City, notably Ateneo de Naga, Naga College Foundation, University of Nueva Caceres and the Bicol State College for Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST),“ the city councilor added.

He cited three key areas where Naga is taking a lead role in opening opportunities for the IT-BPM industry in Bicol:

• Naga is among the 5 cities in the Philippines to be included in StartupBlink’s Global Startup Ecosystem Index since 2022;
• Naga has 5 PEZA-registered IT Parks and 1 Industrial Ecozone;
• Naga has the 6th highest number of tertiary institutions in the country, consistently improving and adapting to meet the needs of the academe;
• Naga has been the over-all most competitive component city in the country for three consecutive years now (2021-2023). It also ranked 1st in Innovation as one of the competitive index pillars; and that

The City Councilor has also revealed that per information from Mayor Legacion, a successful BPO company has relayed interest in locating a branch office in Naga with 200 slots to be initially filled up in the next few months.