It’s a wonder how ICT and its allied industries have gone mainstream in recent years; so unlike in its early days when only the techies kept the issues only to themselves.
This is true in the media as well, where almost all daily broadsheets now cover the IT beat. Throw in those countless glossy gadget magazines that have sprouted lately and you now have a merry mix of IT reporters and "tech reviewers."
This is a far cry in the old days when trade papers, like the Roces family-owned Metropolitan Computer Times, the country’s first computer publication, were the only media entities pounding the IT beat.
Another sign that IT has indeed gone mainstream is the fact that politicians now make IT issues a regular topic in their press releases. Just recently, I received a number of these — including from a labor leader, mind you — which had an IT issue as a concern.
Among the lot, it’s Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago who is the most consistent in sending my regular dose of IT-flavored press statements. Santiago has virtually taken over the role of the man he replaced at Congress — now Catanduanes Gov. Leandro Verceles Jr. — as the most quoted tech-talking solon at the Lower House.
This is also because Santiago is a former chair of the National Telecommunications Commission — a fact he never fails to emphasize when discussing a tech-related issue. I just don’t know if it’s Santiago himself who does the conceptualization of the topic and writing of the actual press release. If not, then he’s lucky to have a good writer who dishes out wellwritten pieces that no longer need rehashing from some reporters.
Another fellow fond of venturing into the IT field in their press releases is Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas. I haven’t met Gullas personally but, perhaps because his family owns the University of the Visayas, his media statements seem to evoke, well, a sincere desire to uplift the quality of IT education in the country.
His favorite topic is the upgrading of science, math, and English education in the country. But lately, Gullas, an ally of the current administration, has been busy drumbeating the influx of foreign investments to local IT firms, particularly PLDT.
As for the labor leader, who was also a former lawmaker, he’s latest press statement dealt with security concerns for women employees working in the night shift in call centers. The call proved effective because the day the media picked up the story, policemen made a nighttime patrol on areas populated by call centers. —Melvin G. Calimag
Waiting too long
The Comelec is stubborn enough to implement the decision of the Supreme Court two years ago when the high court declared the second phase of the automated election system null and void.
The high court has ordered the Comelec to refrain from implementing any other contract or agreement with the Mega Pacific Consortium and Mega Pacific eSolutions. It has also directed the Ombudsman to determine the criminal liability of the public officials and consipiring individuals involved the void contract.
The Supreme Court has also directed the Solicitor General to take measures to protect the government and vindicate public interest from the ill-effects of the illegal disbursement of public funds. Two years of waiting is too long and the public wants to know how the R1.2 billion could be recovered.
Whatever happened to the 1,991 automated accounting machines supplied by the bidder? Well, these machines should be returned to the supplier so that the government could recover the money.
By the way, remember Arlene Amarante who used to head Motorola Philippines? She is now connected with Splash Corp., a local company that manufactures personal care products. From cellullar phones, she is now into skin care. — Edu H. Lopez
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