Microsoft Philippines invites public to get a copy of ICT manifesto

From L-R: George Barcelon, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chair for Services; John Forbes, American Chamber of Commerce, Senior Adviser; Guillermo Luz, National Competitiveness Council, Co-Chairman; Eddie Dorotan, Galing Pook Foundation, Executive Director; Czarina Medina-Guce, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, Executive Director; Karrie Ilagan, Microsoft Philippines, General Manager; Jean-Philippe Courtois, Microsoft International, President; Ed Araral, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Vice-Dean of Research; Issa Cuevas-Santos, Gawad Kalinga, Founder; Jersey Miranda, Gawad Kalinga, IT Director; Roxanne Yu, Makati Business Club, Programs Director; Dondi Mapa, Microsoft Philippines, National Technology Officer (Photo from Microsoft)

MANILA – During the ceremony of the “Public-Private Partnership (P3) Award” held at the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) Building in Quezon City on Friday, Microsoft Philippines invited the public to get a copy of the ICT manifesto.

The manifesto, which aims to push for economic progress in the Philippines, is a call-to-action to various industries and government bodies who can help mobilize this.

Entitled “Shared Prosperity: An ICT Manifesto for the Philippines for 2016 and Beyond,” the manifesto that was launched in the country last month revolves around five key recommendations for the country’s advancement.

Moreover, it has identified national challenges and issues that need to be addressed.

Microsoft Philippines believes that technology has become an integral part of people’s lives these days. The company has partnered with Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, the Asian Institute of Management, and different sectors in crafting the manifesto.

The five key recommendations underscored in the manifesto were:

* Preparing people for the future through 21st century education.

* Building a more equitable society through ensuring connectivity for all.

* Leveraging ICT to enhance competitiveness in a “mobile-first cloud-first world.”

* Moving towards a 21st century government that uses technology to be more efficient and responsive.

* Providing a safe and secure online environment for citizens.

Meanwhile, the ICT manifesto is pushing for economic progress for the three economic drivers in the country that rely mainly on technology: the business process outsourcing (BPO), the online Filipino workers or freelancers, and the small and medium enterprises (SMES).

Microsoft Philippines said BPO is currently a USD20- billion industry in the country; and the online freelancers are estimated to be over a million. It also cited that SMEs contributes 35 percent to the national gross domestic product (GDP).

Those who attended the P3 Award local ceremony were encouraged to get hard copies of the manifesto from Microsoft Philippines’ representative.

For more details about the ICT manifesto, one may visit www.news.microsoft.ph. A copy of the manifesto can also be downloaded online.