Seminar series teaches local firms to market products via Internet

The APEC-IT computer skills training seminars that have been conducted since 2002 in major areas throughout the country are bearing fruits now in terms of business opportunities being reaped by local business groups induced into marketing their products worldwide via the internet.

This was learned from Undersecretary Hermenegildo Dumao, executive director of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Commission, whose office had spearheaded the seminars along with Fujitsu-Philippines and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines.

The seminar series that was funded by the Japanese government ended last Friday at the National Computer Center in Quezon City which drew 134 participants from the national capital region.

They came from various small and medium industry groups, government agencies, and the academe.

The APEC-IT seminars have earlier been through Baguio City, Manila and Cebu in 2002, San Fernando City in La Union, Dagupan City, Naga City, Los Baños (Laguna), Davao, and Cagayan de Oro in 2003, and in Vigan, Tuguegarao, Batangas, Tarlac and Legazpi cities last year.

Dumlao said that the computer training program which was inspired by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) programme for the Adoption of IT aims to bridge the digital divide among the Asia Pacific communities.

Among the local business establishments reportedly reaping fruits from their participation in the APEC-IT seminars, Dumlao cited the Ilocos Chichacorn Co. (ICC) that is based in Bantay, Ilocos Sur as a model.

The company which makes fried corn snacks has created its own website and has allegedly been besieged with orders from Fil-Am communities in Hawaii and US mainland.

E-commerce is now also similarly benefiting peanut brittle makers in Calasiao, Pangasinan as well as Marsha’s Bakeshop in Ilocos Sur, Dumlao said.

He disclosed that his Northquad, office had earlier paved the way for the ICC owner to visit Japan where she familiarized herself with the various wonders of computer technology.

A former Undersecretary of the Education department, Dumlao thanked the Japanese government for funding the APEC-IT seminar program which his office implemented.

Training was handled by Fujitsu-Philippines computer experts led by Raymond Zalameda who is an applications systems consultant, Allan Fernandez, Tess Bueno and Jun Conui. They were assisted by Northquad special projects and technical staff officers.

Addressing the participants in last week’s seminar, Quezon City Rep. Nanette Castelo-Daza cited the important of information technology in today’s business and other activities while DTI asst. secretary Carissa Cruz acknowledged that various business tools for entrepreneurs are available through IT.