CATARMAN, Northern Samar– An investment pitch aimed at improving connectivity in the Province of Northern Samar has evolved into discussions about positioning the province as a potential hub for the IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector.
Governor Edwin C. Ongchuan has spearheaded this initiative during an investment dialogue held at Rufino Pacific Towers, Makati City.
This endeavor came with the introduction of Mr. Albert Mitchell Locsin, the First Vice and Enterprise Revenue Group Head of PLDT Enterprise, with the idea of Northern Samar joining the Contact Islands Conference 2024 hosted by the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) in Cebu City.
This will provide the province with a platform to present Northern Samar as a viable location for the BPO company expansion. Accompanying Mr. Locsin were officials of PLDT Enterprise including: Mr. Javier C. Lagdameo, the Vice President and Head; and Mr. Alvin I. Martinez, their Head of Enterprise Presales.
It can be noted that during the recently held Ibabao Business Conference on June 14, 2024, LBS Digital Infrastructure Inc. expressed their interest in installing a series of network towers in Northern Samar.
As part of this initiative, preliminary discussions with mobile networks have been conducted to lease these forthcoming towers. In response, PLDT-SMART has shown keen interest in enhancing their digital infrastructure within the province.
During the investment pitch initiative, Governor Edwin, supported by the Board of Investments through Dir. Ernesto Delos Reyes, Director for Investment Assistance Services, and as Mr. Jhon Allen Berbon from the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO), and EnP. Jay Keenson Acebuche from the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) presented Northern Samar’s strategic advantages.
These include its skilled workforce, favorable business environment, and expanding infrastructure. These factors underscore Northern Samar’s potential to effectively host BPO operations, promising significant returns on investment for interested stakeholders.
Following the meeting with PLDT-SMART, the provincial government met with Dir. Emmy Lou Versoza-Delfin, Director of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry Development Bureau, to further refine the Northern Samar investment pitch for presentation at the Contact Center Conference 2024.
Dir. Versoza-Delfin oriented the Northern Samar team with the requirements in transforming Catarman into solid Digital City that adds into the ranks of the current 25 Digital Cities in the country.
Digital City is a brand given to a city or town that undergone and have completed their digital roadmap as required by the Digital Cities Program of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
This program aims to transform various cities across the country into thriving hubs for digital innovation, attracting investments and creating job opportunities for Filipinos.
The collaboration between the provincial government, DICT and industry leaders highlighted a concerted effort to capitalize on the province’s untapped potential, further advancing its goal of becoming a resilient and progressive province for all Nortehanons.(PR)
The mercies of God
THAT lamentation of Christ because some people did not ask for forgiveness for their sins in spite of the many blessings given to them (cfr. Mt 11,20-24) should strongly remind us that no matter how sinful and helplessly wretched we feel we are, God is always eager to forgive us if only we ask for it.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!” he cried. “For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.”
We should never fail to contemplate and praise God’s merciful attitude toward us and his endless wonderful things he has done for us. Let’s hope that we can make as our own what a psalm articulated: “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” (98,1)
Let us follow the example of Christ himself who, in contemplating the action of his Father through the apostles whom he had sent to preach, broke out in thanksgiving. “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,” he said, “because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Mt 11,25)
We should never doubt the tenderness and power of God. We should never hesitate to go to him asking for help and mercy. We should rather feel his great love for us which, ideally, should be a constant feature in our life. That’s where we get the power of his love.
Let us try to grow more in intimacy with Christ, like what the apostles experienced after the Resurrection. As we know, Christ continued to stay close to them, as when they were fishing. Christ showed them great affection by giving them a good catch of fish and a hearty breakfast on the shore. (cfr. Jn 21,1-20)
We should never fail to realize that Christ continues to take care of us and to lavish us with his love and affection. What we have to do is to correspond as best that we can to this divine outpouring of God’s love. And given our condition that is wounded by sin, let us never hesitate to ask for forgiveness which, we are assured, will always be given us.
Whenever we feel the sting of our weaknesses and sinfulness, together with their antecedents and consequences, their causes and effects, let’s never forget to consider also God’s mercy that is always given to us, and, in fact, given to us abundantly.
Let’s strengthen our conviction that Christ has a special attraction to sinners, that he is ever willing to forgive us as long as we show some signs of repentance that he himself, through his grace, will stir in us.
Let’s play the part of Peter who, after denying Christ three times, realized his mistake and wept bitterly in repentance. Christ looked kindly on him and forgave him and even made him the prince of the apostles.
Let’s avoid playing the part of Cain and Judas who, after committing their crimes, ran away instead of going back to God repentant. Of course, in saying this, I am not at all judging that they are in hell. That judgment belongs to God alone.
We just have to make sure that we do not get spoiled by God’s abundant mercy, because even if his love and mercy is eternal, his justice is never sacrificed. His mercy and justice always go together, in proportions, if we have to speak in human terms, that are just right.