TACLOBAN CITY – Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla is supporting the technology business incubator for ICT-based SMEs in Region 8 of the Department of Science and Technology.

In a Technical Review Panel (TRP) conducted in DOST Region 8, it was learned the DOST 8 commissioned the Institute for Small Business and Industry Foundation Inc., (ISBI), a consulting – firm based ion Tacloban, to conduct a feasibility study to establish a technology business incubator in the region.

Funded by DOST Technology application Promotions Institute (DOST-TAPI), this said incubator will serve as breeding ground for ICT-based business ideas from the region’s ICT graduates and young entrepreneurs and start up existing SMEs in the ICT business. It is said that this designed to spur cross pollination off ideas, some of which are expected to blossom into a string of globally competitive enterprises.

The TRP including Governor Petilla, BAYANTEL EV Market Sales head Eliseo Cruz Jr., TSD-DOST 7 Chief Engr. Edilberto Paradela, UP –Ayala Techno Park Senior Manager Dr. Mercedes Barcelon, and Central Visayas Information Sharing Network (CVISNet) Manger Frank Belleza. They exchanged comments and suggestions regarding the FS presentation with DOST 8 Regional Director Edgardo Esperancilla as the presiding officer.

To actually come up with an incubator, Petilla suggested hiring programmers and securing government operators “to have a lower budget which is practical and start right away with the idea to have a commercially feasible realistic project plan”.

“We should focus on the commercial side with pour agencies her,” he added.

This project would be easy in collaboration off our Board of Directors (DOST, Provincial Government, SUCs, Venture Capitalists, Entrepreneurs, ICT Association/Network coordinating) with RDC and Technical Pool (DTI, TESDA, EVISNet, SUCs, Consultants, Funding Agencies), he said.

“We have to consider all ICT plans we have in mind,” the governor said. In his experience with ICT, he assessed that it is flexible in demand. With the roadmap he said that the primary target is to focus employment for ICT from a pool of the top 5 percent or 10 percent graduates or those about to graduate, find out good people and bring them in for the project.