TechTalks.ph Chief Program Officer, Mary Rose Rontal during Wednesday’s Habi at Kape at the Abreeza Mall, July 12. (Robby Joy D. Salveron/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Information and communication technology industry leaders are pushing for more venues to open up more opportunities for local information technology enthusiasts and aspirants.
In a press conference here Wednesday, TechTalks.ph Chief Program Officer Mary Rose Rontal said the IT industry in the city lacks venue for talents and aspiring entrepreneurs to discuss digital innovations and share it with investors.
“I know there are a lot of IT people, talents or aspiring entrepreneurs who are around but there’s no platform yet or venue for them to come together and meet with other co-tech enthusiasts or find their co-founder or get an opportunity to build new solutions,” Rontal said.
She said they will conduct the first tech talk in Davao City on August 7 to provide a venue for web developers, designers, programmers, founders, entrepreneurs, traditional business owners and other IT people will be able to discuss and provide new digital innovations that can be utilized on different industries.
“If we can stir startup innovation here in Mindanao, we can also grow the industry. We can focus on agribusiness, for example,” Rontal said.
Rontal cited that the more digital innovators coming in the city, the more businesses will also come.
Rontal said in a meet up conducted for tech startup community in the city last year, only 30 people showed up. She added that the IT community in Davao may have not been stirred up unlike in Cebu and Manila wherein startup events are held at least every week.
“Digital transformation is our future, so if we can’t cope we will be left behind,” Rontal said.
Rontal mentioned that there is a need for Mindanao especially Davao to cope up with the digital developments now that Davao gains a lot of attention across the country.
In June this year, Lawyer Samuel Matunog, president of ICT Davao recognized the contribution of the industry especially the IT-business process management (BPM) industry as the city continues to attract investors, increase number of IT parks built, and growing number of IT-BPM companies.
Matunog also said the city has sufficient number of IT graduates and talents to cater the demands of the said industry and companies.
While details of the tech talk startup in the city is still being finalized, Rontal urged IT talents to attend the international summit on technology, startups, and design which will be held on August 24 to 25 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The event dubbed as “Geeks on a Beach (GOAB)”, is the country’s biggest gathering of tech-driven enterprises, innovators, investors and global speakers to inspire and provide digital innovations and solutions to enhance business and other industries.(davaotoday.com)
