NICP

NICP is the recognized national organization of ICT Councils in the Philippines. Our organization serves as the venue for collaboration and sharing of best practices for our member organizations. Through the years, our organization has served as the unified voice for the Philippine Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sector. We work tirelessly to promote ICT all throughout the country and support each of the councils endeavors in order to help strengthen the ICT in their areas and create more jobs for the Filipinos.

VICTOR Celebrates 6 Years of Countryside ICT Innovation in Aklan by Zion Campo, PRO, Bohol ICT Council

Local Information Communications & Technology (ICT) councils around the Philippines

are packing their bulgy bags and heading to Aklan this February 22-23, 2018 at

Sampaguita Garden, New Washington, Aklan not to party on the white sandy beaches

of beautiful Boracay but to learn and to network with people in this industry.

Typically, most people associate Aklan with the paradise that is Boracay which has

been consistently named as one of the best islands in the world. The sun, the sea and

the sand is what most people travel to Aklan for - to discover and network with people in

the industry is way out of anybody’s vocabulary.

A number of ICT champions are headed to Kalibo, Aklan for the sixth year of the

VICTOR (Visayas ICT Cluster Organization ) Conference, an annual gathering of ICT

councils, industry leaders, government heads and the academe. VICTOR aims to help

promote the massive untapped potential of the Visayan Islands as great locations for

ICT-enabled jobs, opportunities and investments.

A large group of dedicated men and women from all over the country, headed by the

Visayas ICT Clusters (VICTOR) core group namely Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue from the

Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology

(BNEFIT) also the current Vice President of NICP; Joeven Tansi from Iloilo Federation

for Information Technology (IFIT); Jun Saa from Cebu IT-BPM Organization (CIB.O)

also a Board of Trustee of NICP, Joanne Phillips from Bohol ICT Council also a Board of

Trustee of NICP; Danah Fortunato from the ICT Association of Dumaguete and Negros

Oriental; and Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo from Aklan ICT Council (AicTec) and of course

the newly elected National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) president

Antonio Del Carmen.

The event also serves as a platform for NICP (National ICT Confederation of the

Philippines) ICT Council members and its partners to have conversations on their

successes, best practices, learnings and what more can stakeholders do to support

NICP’s vision of creating more jobs and driving innovation in the Philippines’

countryside.

This year, VICTOR is focusing on three major national goals:

- helping local government units jump into the 21st century with e-Governance initiatives

- building sustainable startup environments in different regions

- positioning local communities as prime spots for IT businesses

Alongside the VICTOR Conference, the 4th Creative Congress is also being hosted in

the sands of Aklan. The event is peppered with a number of programs, one of those is a

48 hour game hackathon called GameJam organized by the Game Developers

Association of the Philippines.

After a long day of talks, the NICP expects to strengthen their relationship with all

industry associations and provide everybody with an educational experience that they

will bring back to their communities and contribute to the 350,000 new jobs in the

countryside the organization plans on capturing.

6th VICTOR and 4th CreaCon is held in partnership with the National ICT Confederation

of the Philippines, Aklan ICT Council (AICTeC), Provincial Government of Aklan and the

Iloilo Federation for IT (IFIT) and the Department of Information and Communications

Technology (DICT), sponsored by Amazon Web Services, Micro Genesis, MYEG

Philippines, Southwest Tours (Boracay), INC., PLDT Enterprise, DBP Kalibo, Rosa

Foods, Jocyls Foods, Filbake Corporation, Rentillo Enterprises, Buttons and Things,

Kalibo Cable TV Network Inc. and Aklan TV Network Inc.

For more information, to sponsor or purchase tickets, visit,

https://victorcon.iloilofit.org or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. copy

furnish VICTOR Focal officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Facebook: Visayas

ICT Cluster Organization – NICP.

NICP To Help Boost Countryside ICT Job Share

Countryside champions aims to capture fifty percent of the direct jobs from the additional 700,000 new jobs in information and communications technology (ICT) as targeted by the Philippine IT Roadmap 2022.

This translates to about 350,000 new jobs outside of Metro Manila and going to the provinces. For about two decades, about seventy percent of the jobs in the sector are concentrated in Metro Manila.

The new set of officers of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP), the umbrella organization of ICT councils representing regions, cities, and provinces in the countryside, convened recently to forge its directions for 2018 as its mark its tenth year of corporate existence in 2018.

Incoming president Antonio Del Carmen of the Laguna Industry Network for Knowledge, Innovation and Technology (LINK-IT)said the organizational goal of NICP this year is to develop a more conducive relationship with all industry associations especially those who are actively involved in human resource development and calibration.

Among them is a stronger positioning of provincial locations for global services to be fueled by more active ICT councils that clearly understand their roles and set their directions. NICP and its member councils shall work together to accelerate enabling conditions, such as infrastructure, government processes and business environment better and lobby for investors incentives especially in provincial areas, where high sense of business confidence must be in place.

Another important springboard to achieve the numbers for jobs in 2022 is to upgrade the talent ecosystem, pivoting to higher value skills and opportunities by working closely with the industry and education sector.

Other elected officers include Jocelle Batapa-Sigue of the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT) as Vice president, Rosemarie Quinto-Rey of Albay ICT Association – Legazpi ICT Council as secretary, Rob Enriquez of Bataan ICT Council as treasurer and immediate past president Stephanie Caragos of Cagayan de Oro ICT Business Council as auditor.

Efren Daniel De Leon of Bicol ICT Council, Wilfredo Sa-a, Jr. of Cebu IT-BPM Organization (CIB.O), Joanne Phillips of Bohol ICT Council, Michael Tiu-Lim of Zamboanga ICT Council and Roberto Tinsay of Malaybalay ICT Council complete the ten-men board for 2018.

Reference:

Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue

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LOCAL FIRM INVESTS IN MIXED ECOZONE FOR ORMIN - Dedicates park to every aspiring Mindoreno towards a Future-Ready Mindoro

Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, November 6, 2017– A big local developer in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, Sotera Development Group (SDG) broke ground recently to mark the start of the construction for Sotera San Antonio at Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro last October 18, 2017.

The Development will center around a green park covering some 5,000 square meters. Leading the groundbreaking was Chairman Mel Agudo with Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr. with Cong. Reynaldo Umali and Mayor Arnan Panaligan in attendance, with representatives from academe, DOST, DTI, NEDA, and the community.

Officers of SDG

In the background, the time capsule is buried to start the construction, from left to right: Officers of SDG, Morris Agudo, Merci Agudo; Calapan City Mayor Arnan Panaligan; SDG Chairman Mel B. Agudo; Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr.; Oriental Mindoro 2nd Districit Congressman Reynaldo V. Umali; Officers of SDG, Annette Sumulong, and Severino Sumulong.

“…By investing in Mindoro’s Brightest Gold, its People. SDG dedicates this park to every aspiring Mindoreno towards building a Future-Ready Mindoro.” Chairman Agudo said. “The Bayanihan spirit of cooperation is a must for us all to succeed for greater heights…Together let us open the eyes of the world to Mindoro and Mindoro to golden opportunities”

This project represents a unique venture and a culmination of two years of planning to create a development which will serve as an anchor for job creation, innovative education programs, and neighborhood activities for the residents of Calapan City and the entire Oriental Mindoro province.

Recognizing the need to address the significant challenges of Oriental Mindoro, cradling the gem of the park, Sotera President Agudo said the project will host new office and commercial space that will cater to, but not limited to the incubation of new technology-driven industries such as the IT-BPM industry, related education initiatives, and ICT enabled businesses. SDG is known for its visionary investments in the field of technology and real estate development. Sotera is set to operate by 2019.

Last year, the local governments of Calapan and Oriental Mindoro showed their full support to the creation of a province-wide ICT council to serve as a platform for collaboration for industry, academe and government. Agudo is thankful for this initiative and assures his full support to the direction of the council, especially the vision of making Oriental Mindoro a destination of choice for ICT industries.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Hexa Acedera at +63 999 446 3053 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BPO TAX PERKS WILL NOT BE TOUCHED -ANGARA

_{Press Release}

_{Refer: Shielo Mendoza (09279223309)}

Senator Sonny Angara has allayed the fears of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, saying that tax incentives currently enjoyed by BPO companies will remain despite the proposed comprehensive tax reform program of the government.

“Makakahinga na po nang maluwag ang ating BPO sector matapos liwanagin na hindi mawawala ang kanilang VAT exemption. With the industry’s incentives intact, we can continue to attract more BPO investments that would spur economic growth and job creation in the country,” said Angara, chairman of the ways and means committee.

The Department of Finance (DOF), during Wednesday’s public hearing on the proposed tax reform, has clarified that foreign services of BPO companies in special economic zones will remain exempted from VAT, while those outside special economic zones, including those registered under the Board of Investments, will retain their zero-rated (0% VAT) status.

Certain groups from the industry had earlier voiced out their concerns that the removal of the VAT exemption would make the country a less attractive destination among global BPO firms.

DOF Usec. Antonette Tionko said that there is no change in their tax policy, and some industry stakeholders have likely misinterpreted the provisions of the bill.

“BPO investments have been a big help in sustaining the country’s economic growth for the past years. We value such contribution and the government has been very supportive of the industry by granting BPO firms various incentives,” Angara said.

In 2016, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines reported that the industry provided direct employment to some 1.15 million Filipinos, and generated $23 billion in revenue.

Meanwhile, five Philippine cities made it to the 2017 Tholons top 100 outsourcing sites in the world, with Metro Manila recognized as the fourth most competitive global BPO destination. Other Philippine cities on the list include Cebu (12th), Davao (85th), Bacolod City (97th), and Santa Rosa, Laguna (100th).

Angara stressed that the IT-BPO industry should be tapped as a key driver of rural development through the creation of high-value online jobs in far-flung communities.

“While the industry thrives as one of the top career providers in our major cities, we must also bring opportunities in the countryside where they are needed the most. Dapat, bigyan din natin ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kababayan sa mga malalayong probinsya na makapagtrabaho sa sektor na ito na hindi na kailangan pang lumuwas ng Maynila,” he added.

NICP Open Statement on the Proposed Reduction of Tax Incentives for ICT-Enabled Industries May 31, 2017

We, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Councils of our respective cities, provinces and regions from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao under the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines most respectfully appeal to His Excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines and the 17th Congress of The Republic of the Philippines for the continuation, retention and expansion of current fiscal incentives of Information and Communications Technology - Business Process Management (ICT-BPM) companies in the Philippines in order to generate jobs and investments especially in the countryside, sustain the growth of the said industry, which accounts for the increase in the country's GDP along side OFW remittances, and achieve the current administration's target to ensure inclusive socio-economic growth.

The proposed tax reforms of the current administration are laudable especially insofar as increasing the net income of the middle class by reducing individual income tax base. But taxation is not only a means to generate revenues, it is also a tool to develop and grow industries that are relevant and sustainable especially in areas where there are less jobs and opportunities. Across the globe, developing countries use tax incentives as a means to attract direct foreign investments to solve unemployment, engage in technology transfer and intensify development of preferred industries.

Today, the Philippines is among the global leaders for ICT-enabled jobs, because of our very strong customer service culture, excellent English communication skills and high-level of digital literacy. But above all, from the countryside perspective, the Philippines has leveraged on the strength and potential of its non-metropolis locations or provinces which abound with talent. Seventy percent of the country's graduates are outside of Metro Manila and because of the attractive national tax incentives and the dynamism of provincial locations through its respective ICT councils, ICT-BPM companies have started to set up in Tier 2 and 3 cities, thereby creating the necessary jobs and investment opportunities. Real estate facilities such as ICT parks and centers accredited under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority has begun to flourish in the provinces and thus stimulating the real estate and allied businesses. Because of the thousands of jobs generated by these companies outside of Metro Manila, the growth of support services such as food, transportation, health services, housing and other ancillary services have all increased. The educational sector has been continuously upgrading its quality due to the global requirements. Filipino entrepreneurs have begun to set of up their own companies to also share in the ever increasing global demand for services and digital products. Many provinces have followed the lead of industry associations in creating ecosystems for high value ICT services such as animation, game development, health care information management, finance and accounting, software development, and many other complex segments.

By reducing or removing the current set of tax incentives for ICT-BPM companies - the most affected segment is the provincials locations which currently take advantage of national incentives under a centralized government structure.

Introducing VAT on BPO services could have very damaging repercussions for growth, expansion and sustainability of this industry in the countryside. The inevitable implication for BPO services will be an increase in cost, affecting employees current benefits, and any form of expansion and at worst, for them to explore low-cost economies for their BPO operations.

It is our most humble appeal that the government retain the current incentive package of the ICT-BPM industry and encourage their expansion in provincial location. In the alternative, we appeal that these companies be allowed tax deductions for any relevant talent development programs it will invest in to grow and ensure the quality of talent in the countryside.

We fully support the goal of the current administration to create jobs and investments for inclusive and together with the government, the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) and all its member ICT councils vow to contribute ONE MILLION ICT JOBS by 2022 in the countryside.

National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP)

Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue
Head, NICP Public Sector and Policy Committee

Stephanie Rosalind R. Caragos
President, NICP

Latest Articles

VICTOR Celebrates 6 Years of Countryside ICT Innovation in Aklan by Zion Campo, PRO, Bohol ICT Council Date Posted: Feb. 07, 2018 06:50:24
Local Information Communications & Technology (ICT) councils around the Philippines are packing their bulgy bags and heading to Aklan this February 22-23, 2018 at Sampaguita Garden, New Washington, Aklan not to party on the white sandy beaches of...

READ MORE
NICP To Help Boost Countryside ICT Job Share Date Posted: Jan. 15, 2018 14:44:46
Countryside champions aims to capture fifty percent of the direct jobs from the additional 700,000 new jobs in information and communications technology (ICT) as targeted by the Philippine IT Roadmap 2022. This translates to about 350,000 new jobs...

READ MORE
LOCAL FIRM INVESTS IN MIXED ECOZONE FOR ORMIN - Dedicates park to every aspiring Mindoreno towards a Future-Ready Mindoro Date Posted: Nov. 06, 2017 15:19:34
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, November 6, 2017– A big local developer in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, Sotera Development Group (SDG) broke ground recently to mark the start of the construction for Sotera San Antonio at Calapan City, Oriental...

READ MORE

National ICT Confederation of the Philippines