Manila Hosts International Startup And Innovation Conference

Wazzup Pilipinas!
 

Manila played host to the first ever Bootstrap Manila 2016, A Startup and Innovation Conference, held last October 22, 2016 at Green Sun Hotel, Makati.  Organized by two of the country’s leading coworking spaces and incubator/accelerator hubs - Impact Hub Manila and Launchgarage, the one-day conference boasted an exciting lineup of speakers from the ecosystems of Berlin, Bangalore, Jakarta, and Manila.

ROADSHOW FOR AN INTERCONNECTED INTERNATIONAL ECOSYSTEM

Bootstrap Manila is part of the StartHubs AsiaBerlin Roadshow that runs from October 18-27, 2016, with Bangalore as the first stop, followed by Manila, then Jakarta.  StartHubs AsiaBerlin is a project within the Asia-Pacific Weeks 2016 initiated by the Berlin Ministry of Economic Affairs in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.  It seeks to shed light on the four important startup hubs and build an open platform for interconnectivity, networking, direct communication and cooperation, and collaboration among the partner cities.  It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Delegates kicked off the Manila leg of the roadshow with a tour of the world-class MANILA FAME, Design and Lifestyle Event, at the World Trade Center, and an al fresco dinner at Nayong Pilipino’s Orchidarium at Rizal Park, Manila on October 21.  Both activities were hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Slingshot Philippines, a program that aims to nurture and grow the local ecosystem through capacity building, funding, and policy support for startups.  In his welcome remarks, Senen Perlada, DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau Director, recognized the importance of startups saying, “Creativity and innovation are the currency of today.”

STRENGTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF EACH CITY

Impact Hub Manila’s Co-Founder LizAn Kuster and Launchgarage’s Jay Fajardo formally opened the whole day conference on October 22.  Fresh from the Bangalore leg of the roadshow, Fajardo gave the audience an overview of what to expect during the day-long event, while Kuster delivered an insightful introduction on what it means to bootstrap as an entrepreneur.  “Bootstrapping is more than just building your solutions without external fundings, it means growing your enterprise with people and connections. Thus StartHubs AsiaBerlin is extremly valuable for our ecosystem,” Kuster states.

Rainer Seider, Head of the International Unit for Cooperation of the Berlin Ministry for Economic Affairs, gave the keynote address.  He described Berlin’s diverse and vibrant ecosystem, and outlined the goals and plans of StartHubs AsiaBerlin  to create a “single intercontinental startup ecosystem through structured channels, such as a online platform which will launch soon and everyone can join” despite each city’s different intricacies.

Seider was joined by other members of the keynote panel - Deepash Agarwal of MoveInSync from Bangalore; Fajar Anujerah from Bali Recycling; Ces Rondario, Impact Hub Manila Co-Founder; and Jay Fajardo.  Moderated by Kuster, the panelists shared the characteristics, strengths, challenges, and opportunities of their respective ecosystems.

Agarwal shared Bangalore’s mutually beneficial partnership and coordination with the government, thanks to the latter’s recognition of the success and contribution of the BPO/IT industry.  Bangalore is considered India’s tech capital, and enjoyed the most startup funding in 2014.

Jakarta, Indonesia’s largest city, on the other hand, enjoys a fast growing economy that affords plenty of opportunities for new enterprises and entrepreneurs.  Anujerah revealed how the megacity is quickly becoming home to a number of tech startups and attracting more Indonesian investors.

On the Philippine startup community, Rondario described it as a “good base for social entrepreneurship.”  Fajardo, on the other hand, recognized the exemplary skill of Filipino engineers, but acknowledged the need to improve the quality of local mid- to high-level management talent familiar with the workings of the startup scene.

INNOVATORS AND DISRUPTORS SHAPING UP THE ECOSYSTEMS

Bootstrap Manila 2016 was marked by highly interesting and informative talks by movers and shakers from each ecosystem.

Following the keynote panel was Geraldine de Bastion, Founder of Global Innovation Gathering (GIG), a network of grassroots innovators, social entrepreneurs, founders, makers, and hackers.  Speaking about Innovation in the Global South, she showed examples of innovative and creative ideas and solutions from GIG’s network.

Yathan Blumenthal, Founder and Accelerator Chief of Hardware Co., gave a talk on Accelerating Business, Methodologies, and Co-Working, based on first-hand credible experience and the successful Berlin-based co-working hub, Betahaus.

The winners of Impact Hub Fellowship on Sustainable Energy Solutions with PEF, WWF and ADB, namely SolarSolutions, HiGi and CleverHeat were also given a few minutes to pitch their startups.

The afternoon session continued with talks from Filipino speakers starting off with Luis Buenaventura of Bloom Solutions and a cryptocurrency and fintech expert, who spoke about blockchains and how the Philippines is starting to use it in OFW remittances.

Also on the lineup was Paula Schwarz, Founder of Startupboat, who gave a personal account of how her growing up years in a Greek island contributed to her work with migrant refugees landing in their shores.  Startupboat leads a program for workplace and community integration for refugees.

The final speakers for the day were leading Filipino entrepreneurs and innovators - self-confessed “entreprenerd” Ibba Rasul-Bernardo, who showed the audience how DSCVR, an app that creates 360 VR stories work; and Manny Ayala, Managing Director of Endeavor Philippines, a global non-profit, who gave an information-laden and inspiring talk about high impact entrepreneurship.

Chosen fellows of the recently-awarded Impact Hub Fellowship on Sustainable Energy Solutions, done in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - Philippines and Peace and Equity Foundation, and supported by the Asian Development Bank - Cleverheat, HiGi, and Solar Sari-Sari Store, were also given the chance to the present their winning ideas to the international delegation.

The conference ended on a high note, and a “groufie” with Seider extending an invitation to the next AsiaPacific Weeks in 2017 and the succeeding roadshow among the four ecosystems.

StartHubs network partners are in Jakarta: PLUS - platform usaha sosial; and Bangalore: AHK Indo German.

Bootstrap Manila 2016 is supported by Slingshot Philippines, Converge Pure Fiber Internet, Proudcloud, Nayong Pilipino, UHop, and Signature Ads.

I-ACT, LGUs Join Forces in Multi-Agency Approach to Solve Traffic Problems

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Two months since the formation of the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (i-ACT), the single authority in traffic management in the metropolis, Metro Manila mayors and traffic managers from various Local Government Units (LGUs) have expressed support and optimism in the direction being taken to solve traffic woes.

In a workshop in Camp Crame yesterday, LGU traffic managers joined officials and personnel from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and PNP-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) in drafting guidelines to ensure smooth implementation of a unified ticketing system. This, after local chief executives agreed to pass uniform ordinances on traffic violation fines and penalties. The move is consistent with the i-ACT’s vision to harmonize traffic laws and ordinances and integrate a single enforcement system under one chain of command.

Apart from strict enforcement along national roads, the i-ACT also intensified its campaign against illegally-parked and colorum vehicles. From July 6 to October 26, 2016, the i-ACT impounded 236 colorum vehicles, towed 5,696 illegally-parked vehicles, and cleared 2,330 sidewalk vendors. The council have also issued 25, 635 traffic violation tickets.

LGUs have also expressed their desire to align their traffic rules with the i-ACT, such as implementing the suspension of window hours in their cities and areas of jurisdiction.

This multi-agency approach is seen as a welcome change in the traditional system that tolerated uncoordinated laws and ordinances by national government agencies and LGUs. Such development required a brand of leadership that is anchored on strong political will, something that agency heads attribute to Transportation Secretary Art Tugade.

“Sec. Tugade's leadership paved the way to utilize a multi-agency approach in solving traffic and transportation issues in Metro Manila. This has never been done before,” said MMDA Chairman Tim Orbos.

PNP-HPG Chief Gen. Antonio Gardiola, the over-all Chief Traffic Enforcer of i-ACT, said he acknowledges the fact that solving traffic is indeed very difficult, but Tugade’s values and strong political have helped them face the odds.

The Highway patrol Group and the entire Philippine National Police supports the integration of all traffic management and enforcement units/offices under a single, unified entity through the i-ACT to harmonize government approaches in alleviating the transport crisis in Metro Manila, and to serve as a template for other cities in the country as envisioned by Sec. Tugade,” he said.

Tugade’s management initiatives to solve traffic and corruption were also hailed.

“Secretary Tugade, with strong management initiatives, has taken the heavy challenge of addressing traffic congestion,” said LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra.

Asec. Ed Galvante of the LTO added: “The LTO is very serious in implementing anti-corruption measures in line with the thrust of Sec. Tugade to eradicate corruption among its ranks and DOTr's attached agencies.”

DICT Statement on President Duterte's Speech in China

Wazzup Pilipinas!

During his speech of acceptance at the Philippine IT-BPM Roadmap 2022 launch hosted by the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), Secretary Rodolfo Salalima reassured BPOs on the commitment of the DICT to maintain strong collaboration between the government and the industry. This, also, is an elaboration of his previous statement regarding President Duterte’s declaration during his visit to China.

Below is the transcript of the official statement during the IBPAP event. The same statement will also be posted on the DICT website.


Official Statement of Secretary Rodolfo A. Salalima:

"ln view of the recent statement made by President Rodrigo Duterte in his visit to Beijing, China last October 19, 2016 that the country is “separating” from US, allow me to illuminate this statement:

ln Political and lnternational Law, a State is defined as a “group of people, more or less numerous, occupying a definite portion of a territory, having a government of its own and free from external control”. Freedom from external control means external sovereignty or independence, meaning the Philippines, as an independent State, is independent of or separate from all other states like the USA as our country is not part of or a colony or protectorate of the latter, hence, a SEPARATE STATE.

Thus, our President is correct when he stated that we are separating from the US the Philippines is separate and distinct from because in TRUTH, lN FACT and the US, with the sovereign right to track our own foreign policy and international alignment. This has been avowed way back when we declared our country's independence. When the President therefore also said of the troika of the Philippines,Russia and China “against the world”, he was merely being metaphorical and exuberant of our country's status as a sovereign state as borne out by his subsequent clarificatory statements.

Hence, consistent with the commitment of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to the BPO sector, the Department of Information and Communications Technology shall continue to fulfill its duties and maintain our strong collaboration with our BPOs. It is clear that the creation of the DICT will make the country a prime spot for the BPO. lndustry and we assure you that the same objective and mandate of our department will remain and be pursued.

To the BPO lndustry, the Philippine government envisions a developed nation that will be dubbed as a “world-class ICT services provider “. Together, we will work on this. The Philippine Government through the DICT shall continue what has been started with regard to the BPO lndustry. Contracts that has been enforced and still existing shall be respected and will continue until their full implementation. As the country aims to develop an lT-enabled workforce, expand the reach of lnternet

Access and services to the citizens, enhance lT service management and create an industry, your presence, your collaboration, unending support and partnership will play an important role to reach these objectives. Let us remain steadfast in reaching these goals."