CLARK FREEPORT — Aurora Congressman Juan Edgardo Angara has stressed the importance of Information and Communication Technologies on disaster management.

Angara said ICT may be used in the delivery of basic services during calamity in terms of decision support systems for agricultural and rural sectors, health services to far-flung areas, among others.

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He stated this during the launching of the 2nd National ICT of the Philippines Summit held at the Fort Stotsenburg Hotel in this Freeport recently.

“Congressional Commission on Science & Technology and Engineering (or COMSTE) recognizes the significance of ICTs in delivering basic services which also recognized the need to implement these projects through public-private partnerships,” Angara said.

Government need not spread thinly (and therefore ineffectively) its already limited resources can also tap into the expertise of private sector and therefore engage all sectors of society in nation-building, according to him.

There are at least 4,000 delegates expected to join the 2nd NCIP Summit and Convergence 2009 slated on November 5 to 7 at the Fontana Convention Center.

The summit is organized by the National ICT Conference of the Philippines (NICP) in cooperation with the Clark Development Corporation, Metro Clark ICT Council (MCICTC), and Cyber City Teleservices Inc.

“I am glad that the 2nd National ICT Summit has asked me to speak on global ICT opportunities, and supportive government policies on ICT. This is exactly how we work in Congress and in COMSTE, finding ways to leverage global experiences, technologies and opportunities with our own assets, and at the same time provide for an environment in government where both the private and public sectors of society can be competitive,” Angara said.

When Congress created the Commission in 2007, Angara said they immediately identified the IT and IT-Enabled industries as one of the major players in the Philippines’ struggle for global competitiveness.

“The IT sector is an important ‘enabler’ in many other sectors in society, especially in science and technology,” he added.

MCICTC Chair George Sorio said the event will also include track sessions featuring various CICT initiatives and talks from key players in the Business Process Outsourcing and Information Technology (BPO-IT) industry.

This, he said, is in recognition of the important role of the ICT in advancing today’s growing business activities here and abroad.

“IT Panel of COMSTE also has legislative recommendations that will work to further the global competitiveness of the ICT sector, especially the business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors,” Angara said.

MCICTC is a member of the NCIP, which represents the national venue of united partnership for the Philippines ICT industry.

The NCIP is the hub of super regions in Asia with ready Information Technology platforms for investment destinations.

The two events will be participated in members of ICT in the academe, ICT-related business industries, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology and others.

The project is sponsored by Peregrine Global Gateways, ComClark, Savers Group of Companies, Cyber City and CDC.

Other entities which supported the event include the Department Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), Clark Investors and Locators Association, Philippine Society of Information Technology and Educators (PSite) and Fontana Leisure Parks.

Angara said he is proud to be the co-author of the bill as it provides the use of ICT infrastructure, systems, and resources for nation building and global competitiveness.

“I am hopeful that this will be enacted this year or early next year. We at the Lower House have actually approved it on third reading last year; it is now on second reading at the Senate,” Angara said.

Angara added that the country is a world-leader in ICT services.