For CY 2006, the science and technology sector have
performed well. Two prominent bodies, the Regional
Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Committee (RITECC
V) and the Bicol Consortium for Agriculture, Resources
Research and Development (BCARRD) have been actively
involved in the conduct of various activities that boost the
sector’s performance as well as addressed the issues and
concerns of the sector.
The BCARRD provided the venue to make research and
development a priority in the region. Member-agencies and
state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the region were
provided technical and financial assistance in the conduct
of their respective researches. With the active involvement
of BCARRD, the researches by SUCs and regional line agencies
are now well coordinated, thus, duplication are avoided.
The Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) are
important conduits for information, technology and technical
assistance to the farmers, the business and industry sector
and the general public. For 2006, two FITS centers were
established at the DA regional office 5 and at DA Sorsogon
provincial office. These bring the total number of FITS
centers to 9 in the region. Trainings on the use of
information and communication technology (ICT) were provided
to the farmer-scientist (magsasakang siyentista), FITS
center staff and the BCARRD staff. Facilities such as
computers, computer printers, mobile phones and a database
system for online data entry were provided to the FITS
centers to facilitate reporting and monitoring and provide
better access to information in the communities.
BCARRD has been aggressive in the conduct of research and
development in the region. Through the years, BCARRD was
able to come up with a list of technologies and information
that helped in improving agricultural production and
innovation. These technologies include the following: (1)
registered varieties and asexual propagation of pili; (2)
embryo-cultured macapuno seedlings; (3) macapuno and other
food products processing technologies; (4) coco-coir
processing technology; (5) multi-crop processing machine;
(6) queen pineapple production technology; (7) zero waste
ginger processing; and (8) arrowroot processing technology.
Massive information and advocacy on the use of these
technologies were conducted to increase productivity.
Several fora were conducted and/or participated in by BCARRD
member agencies. These provided a venue for the different
stakeholders to address pressing issues and concerns on a
particular service sector. The following fora included: (1)
the rice black bug and coconut leaf beetle forum which
provided a timely action to manage the infestation of the
bugs; (2) queen pineapple forum provided information on
available technologies and responded to the technical
support needed/requested by the farmers and traders; and (3)
pili congress where matured technologies and researches were
presented and issues pertaining to the pili industry were
discussed and provided with recommendations.
The RITECC intensified ICT promotion and implementation for
the year 2006 in cooperation with various partners from the
government, academic institutions and the private sector.
This year’s accomplishment focuses on the promotion of free
and open source solutions (FOSS), identifying investment
opportunities of the region in ICT sector, and the conduct
of various trainings, fora, and other activities towards
public awareness on ICT.
The 1st Bicol Information and Communication
Technology Congress was conducted in November 2006 to
promote Bicol as one of the ICT hubs of the Philippines and
to promote ICT among local stakeholders through the showcase
of various ICT initiatives, projects and plans of the
government and the private sectors.
Seven
resolutions aimed at establishing and promoting the Bicol
Region as place for ICT awareness and investments were
passed in the ICT congress, to wit:
-
Promoting Local Investments in ICT Devices, Equipment
and Materials and Encouraging Local Government Units to
Include ICT as a Priority for Investment Promotion
-
Supporting the Passage of the Proposed Free and Open
Source Software (FOSS) Bill with Recommended Amendments”
-
Requiring Higher
Educational Institutions (HEIs) and Technical Vocational
Institutions (TVIs) to Designate an Information
Technology (IT) Industry Coordinator”
-
A
Resolution Urging Local Government Units to Implement
Automated Office Systems Available from the Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
-
A
Resolution Requesting the Regional Development Council (RDC
V) to Approve the Proposal for the Establishment and
Maintenance of a Bicol Portal
-
Requesting Immediate Action on the Frequent Power
Outages and High Power Costs in the Region
-
Urging
the Creation of a Barangay-Level LGU Task Force to
Ensure the Security of ICT Infrastructure Deployed in
Remote Areas
One of the highlights of the Congress was the unveiling of
the Legazpi City ICT Marker whereby a groundbreaking
ceremony was conducted converting the Ibalong Centrum for
Recreation into ICT Park as complemented by virtue of a City
Resolution, “Declaring the Building and Compound of the ICR
as the Legazpi City IT Park.” The park is envisioned to
provide potential IT enterprises locators a suitable and
conducive area to locate their respective businesses.
The Gabay sa Mamamayan Action Centers (GMACs) were
established in the barangays to serve as the link between
the national government and the barangays, and ensure that
right information about the national government’s programs
and services would be available at the community level. The
center is a barangay-based and barangay-focused facility,
where the residents could access information on government
service. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
facilitated the establishment of GMACs in all barangays
across the region. To ensure its sustainability a scheme was
devised to monitor the functionality of the Center. For
2006, there are 2027 barangays or 58 percent of the total
barangays in the region have a functional GMACs.
