By Mike Baños
Government agencies and private tech companies have come together in Cagayan de Oro to spark the digitalization of a Smart Mindanao.
Dubbed Ignite: Technofying Mindanao, the three day event being held August 9-11, 2024, at Ayala Centrio Mall envisions to empower every student, entrepreneur, and tech enthusiast with the tools to shape the future.
“We are here not just for an event, but to kick off a movement that will redefine Mindanao’s future through the power of education and technology,” said Parker L. Kwan, CEO of Cagayan de Oro-based Makotek Computers. “This year’s Makotek TechMadness event, marks a significant turning point for Mindanao. It’s the year where we turn ambition into action, where dreams become reality, and where each of us plays a vital role in shaping the landscape of innovation. Cagayan de Oro, the Gateway to Northern Mindanao, is a hub where education and technology converge. It’s the perfect setting for Ignite: Technofying Mindanao.”
“Our mission is to equip individuals with emerging skills essential for the industry, such as data modeling, data aggregation, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and more. By leveraging the power of the internet, we aim to transform Mindanao into a hub for home-based services, creating job opportunities and contributing to the global tech landscape,” he further stressed. Kwan cited the “extraordinary” uplifting every year of some 16,000 students in Mindanao who are being equipped with skills that will prepare them for the demands of a rapidly evolving world. driven by three key educational initiatives:
Iskolar sa Dakbayan (ISDA) – Cagayan de Oro City transforms lives by offering scholarships
to 2,000 students annually in fields like Business Administration, Marketing Management,
Information Technology, and Civil Engineering; University of Mindanao Community
Learning Centers focused on Entrepreneurship, Software Development, and Network
Management, these centers equip 1,500 students with the skills needed to thrive in today’s fast- paced world; and, the European Union’s ReACh 2 TEACH Project impacts 12,575 students annually, providing education and essential skills in Livelihood Training and Basic IT Skills, ensuring resilience and recovery for the most vulnerable.
“At Makotek, technology isn’t just a tool; it’s a catalyst for change. It’s transforming small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by improving efficiency, expanding reach, and enabling competition on a global scale. These scholarships and educational programs are preparing students with the skills needed to drive these businesses forward, turning challenges into opportunities. And let’s not forget about the booming BPO industry—a gateway to global markets. With our growing IT workforce, Mindanao is poised to seize these opportunities, positioning our region as a competitive player on the global stage,” Kwan noted.
Empowering SMES
“Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise 99.5 percent of business enterprises in the Philippines and accounted for more than 60 percent of jobs in the country, that is why DTI it is crucial that we empower our MSMEs not just to survive but to thrive with the aid of digital tools and platforms. The push to digitalize and innovate MSMEs is one of the key priorities of DTI,” said Jesse Abear, OIC Provincial Director, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental.
By integrating technology, small and medium-sized enterprises can improve efficiency, expand reach, and compete globally. Modern education equips students to drive these businesses, while off- shore employment provides access to international talent.
Abear cited DTI’s flagship initiative Digital Transformation for MSMEs Program, which
provides comprehensive training on e-commerce, digital marketing, and cybersecurity to equip MSMEs with the skills necessary to navigate the digital landscape effectively. This initiative is not just about technology adoption; it’s about fostering a mindset of continuous innovation and resilience in the face of challenges; DTI’s Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) Online Program connects experienced entrepreneurs with budding MSMEs through digital mentorship to bridge knowledge gaps, allowing nascent MSMEs to learn best practices and avoid common pitfalls in their journey towards growth and success; the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA) focused on the Digital Interactive Media Domain through which DTI helps foster a new wave of digital entrepreneurs who can innovate in areas like gaming, animation, and digital content creation to help drive economic growth and position the Philippines as a hub for creative digital innovation.
She also cited the Internet Transaction Act: Ensuring Safe and Ethical Digital Transactions
which highlights DTI’s deep commitment to cultivating ethical business environments, and the Internet Transaction Act, a key legislative measure that DTI supports, aimed at ensuring the safety and security of online transactions.
Not the least, Abear cited the National Al Strategy Roadmap 2.0 which outlines the national
strategy for integrating artificial intelligence into the business ecosystem, with a special focus on MSMEs. “By providing access to Al tools and resources, we are enabling our MSMEs to optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and innovate in ways that were previously unimaginable,” she added.
She further cited how DTI’s Negosyo Centers have been offering digital services and support, to help MSMEs in remote regions tap into the global market, thereby fostering inclusive growth.
“Our efforts do not stop at empowering individual businesses. We understand that the true
potential of digital technology lies in its ability to drive sustainable regional development. By leveraging digital platforms, we can ensure that opportunities are not concentrated in urban centers alone, but are also accessible to MSMEs in rural areas,” Abear noted.
Driving digitalcitiesPH
For her part, TESDA Misamis Oriental Assistant Regional Director Marigold Cherie Ramos
Garrido stressed their agencies most important roles over the next 3 years: Business Intelligence and Data Analysis, Data Analytics, and Data Science and Big Data Mining.
To pursue these roles, TESDA is using Area Based and Demand Driven TVET (Technical &
Vocational Education Technology) to address areas specific needs with their available courses such as 2D Animation NC II, 3D Game Art Development NC III, Visual Graphics Design NC III, Computer Systems Servicing NC II, Contact Center Services NC II, & 16 more.
More specifically, in support of the Next Wave Cities program for IT BPM (now rebranded as
digitalcitiesPH) TESDA has lined up additional programs to address the requirements:
The digitalcitiesPH program (formerly Next Wave Cities Program) aims to provide access to
digital jobs and opportunities which has significantly contributed to the economic growth of the countryside or regions outside of Metro Manila.
Launched during the 9th NICP ICT Summit held November 16 -17, 2017 in Cagayan de Oro, digitalcitiesPH (a collaborative advocacy program of DICT with IBPAP and NICP) focuses on the development of ICT-enabled hubs that will serve as business and innovation centers and investment destinations outside Metro Manila, thus creating economic opportunities in the countryside. The program aims to spur inclusive growth and economic development in the country. digitalcitiesPH is anchored upon achieving goals based on the IT-BPM Roadmap and Tholons 100 Services Globalization Index. Recently, the new Tholons Index introduced new assessment elements focusing on digital transformation, innovation and digital startup ecosystem in cities.
With the shared aspiration of bringing digital opportunities to the countryside and further
improving the country’s economy, the DICT, NICP and IBPAP welcomed the challenge of
taking the Next Wave Cities Initiative to the next level by re-branding it as
the digitalcitiesPH Program.
On top of its support to the digitalcitiesPH program, Garrido also cited how TESDA further
empowers technofying Mindanao with TESDA’s Online programs, a web based platform that
offers free Massive Open Online C Courses (MOOCs) for the technical education and skills.
Starting with 151 courses in 2017, it now has 17 full qualification courses, added 19 new courses
in 2022), and has attained 5,097,785 course enrollments; 4,409,598 registered users; and
3,220,912 course completions to date.
Available Information and Communications Technology courses include SMART Android
Mobile Apps, SMART Technopreneurship 101, WEB Dev’t using HTLM5 and CSS3 Microsoft
Online Courses, C# Fundamentals for Beginners, Software Development Fundamentals Udemy Courses, and Android 4.0 Programming in Java absolutely free of charge.
However, Garrido said industry plays a key role in identifying which emerging skills are most needed since the agency still lacks schools or centers offering AI and customer services as of the moment.
Ignite: Technofying Mindanao, the Makotek TechMadness Events 2024 includes the following highlights :
Tech Exhibitions: Walk through exhibitions that bring the future to life. Discover
breakthroughs in IT, engineering, and business solutions that have the power to transform
industries and lives.
Stage Tech-talks: Engage with industry experts. Gain insights into emerging
technologies and the digital skills you need to succeed in a tech-driven world.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with our community of IT brands and innovators,
entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts. Forge partnerships that can lead to groundbreaking
projects, turning your ideas into reality. Participate in competitions that encourage
creative problem-solving and collaboration like Excel-Esport. Push boundaries, showcase
your skills, and learn from the best.
Interactive Product Demos: Experience hands-on interactions with the latest products
and technologies. Witness live demonstrations that highlight the innovations shaping our
future.
Among the key exhibitors present are the following:
HP, MSI, Acer, and Lenovo providing high-performance laptops that empower students
to challenge boundaries and unleash creativity.
Thermaltake & Deep Cool offering cooling solutions for hands-on hardware exploration,
nurturing curiosity and innovation.
Asus, MSI, Gigabyte & ASRock with essential components that teach the art of building
custom PCs.
1 st Player, Corsair, Redragon, & DarkFlash supporting digital design with gaming
peripherals and PC Cases
Machenike and Thunderobot providing powerful gaming laptops and for careers in
software development and network management.
ViewSonic, Asus Gigabyte, MSI & Western Digital opening doors to interactive learning
with display technology and storage solutions.
Logitech, Rapoo & TeamGroup optimizing learning experiences with peripherals and
memory solutions.
“Our vision is clear, To ignite a passion for technology, to inspire innovation, and to create
opportunities for growth and success. By connecting industry leaders, educators, and aspiring tech professionals, we ensure that Mindanao remains at the forefront of technological advancements, empowering communities to rise above challenges and seize new opportunities.
And what better way to achieve this than with the support of our incredible partners that are here with us,” Kwan stressed in conclusion.
