1st Bohol Education Summit with focus on ICT held

The ICT-focused Bohol Education Summit was held on March 2, 2017 at the Café Dolores of Bohol Tropics Resort in Tagbilaran City. This was part of the triple event 5^th VICTOR or Visayas ICT Organization Conference, 1^st Bohol Education Summit and 3^rd Creative Conference or CREACON, all three events happening in Bohol.  This was sponsored by the DICT and spearheaded by the Bohol ICT Council led by President Ms. Joanne Phillips and past president Ms. Lai Biliran, the Bohol Investments and Promotions Center of the Provincial Government led by Ms. Maria Fe Dominise, NICP VICTOR head Atty.  Jocelle Bata Sigue and NICP President Stephanie Caragos.

This was a very welcome endeavor both by the Provincial Government of Bohol led by Governor Edgar M. Chatto and the City Government of Tagbilaran led by Mayor John Geesnell Yap with Bohol’s overarching framework “HEAT IT Bohol” where IT is now part of the three (3) pillars together with Agriculture and Tourism. It was a time when the Boholanos got to hear and mingle with the big names and personalities in ICT which would be impossible to do in the Philippine capital.

Also co-sponsors were Transcom,  EC Council, Globe myBusiness, Sourceway, Alturas Group of Companies, Gwion, Malayan Insurance Tagbilaran Branch, Printbit, and Save n’ Earn.  The goodie bags showcasing Bohol products were from Peanut Kisses, BQ Calamay, Dalareich, Donna Rara’s Food Products and Jojie’s.

The 1^st Bohol Education Summit with focus on ICT was participated in by the Bohol Education stakeholders particularly the Colleges and Universities including Holy Name University, University of Bohol, BISU, Cristal-e College, BIT International College, Mater Dei College, Bohol Northwestern Colleges, Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Bohol College of Science and Technology, Bohol Wisdom School, and also by DepEd Bohol and Tagbilaran Divisions and TESDA.

Inputs were given by Industry experts Ana Maria “Penny” Bongato, IBPAP Talent Development,  Jonathan de Luzuriaga, Chair of the IT-BPM Roadmap 2022, and Usec Monchito Ibrahim of the Department of ICT.

The workshop, facilitated in by Ms. Vera Villocido, asked the participants to make their 2017 Education Action Plans based on: Faculty Development, Curriculum Development, Equipment and Facility Improvement and Center of Excellence/Center of Development Certification.

In 2016, Bohol does not have a single Center of Excellence, nor is it included in the Next Wave Cities or Emerging Destinations. The challenge is for Bohol to become a Next Wave City or Emerging Destination in ICT.

Among the faculty development plans included trainings in SMP or Service Management Program, Advanced English Pre-employment Training or ADEPT, DBPM (Oracle), CCNA, Business Analytics, Cybersecurity and Industry Immersion.  For curriculum development, industry linkage and partnership is the top priority.  “Open Lab” facility is mentioned in terms of equipment and facility improvement while for the Certification in Center of Excellence/Center of Development, the universities mentioned working on the requirements within the next three (3) years.

The 1^st Bohol Education Summit was capped with the Commitment Signing by all the stakeholders and the results presented to the plenary of the 5^th VICTOR Conference.  

It was also signed by Governor Edgar Chatto and DICT Undersecretary Monchito Ibrahim. The Commitment said: “Inasmuch as Bohol is becoming a new haven of IT-
BPM investments, we the Education Sector of Bohol, commit to the implementation of the 2017 Education Action Plan”.

(PR/Vera)