DAVAO CITY, Nov 19, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX)
Company: International Business Machines Corp. (IBM)
The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) has forged an agreement with IBM Philippines for the establishment of a technology center that can used for free by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other industries to improve their business operations.
DCCCII consultant for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) committee Andrei Fournier said the technology center will be set up at the DCCCII office along J.P. Laurel where IBM Philippines is donating software worth P1.4 million, while ICT Davao will also be donating three desktop personal computers.
He said the center could also be used by those who want to develop programs for SMEs for free.
Fournier said they recognized the basic problem of SMEs which is the non-availability of software applications.
He said the center is the place where they could develop the appropriate software for their businesses.
IBM Philippines has started moving outside of Metro Manila and it has expanded to Davao City lately.
The technology center will also be launched on November 26.
Fournier said DCCCII has intensified its campaign on environmental protection realizing that the ICT sector is one of the major pollutants and consume a lot of power as the industry relies so much on power.
Part of their advocacy is the use of energy-saving computers as they are also campaigning especially to internet cafes to start phasing out Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) or the big monitors. This, as most of the parts when not properly disposed, are major pollutants to the environment.
Fournier urged the people to use computers or laptops with low energy consumption and remind the public to shut off these units when not in use.
He said internet cafes are among heavy users of power with the kind of units they install in their establishments.
On the average, they use at least 400 CRTs and you could just imagine if these things are not properly handled will pause danger to the environment.
Meanwhile, Fournier said, they are campaigning on eWaste disposal in partnership with SM City Davao.
SM City Davao initiated the waste recycling market where it dedicated the first Saturday of every month as Waste Market Day. The Waste Market is joined by accredited buyers of waste products, including eWaste.
He said the waste materials from computers, laptops and other electronic device are collected and assessed for recycling. Those parts that could no longer be used will be properly disposed.
"We are into advocating simple ways of protecting the environment and by doing so, we could also save on energy," he said.
Fournier said they are in talks with other sectors in the community to come up with similar activities so more people could be reached for them to dispose of their eWaste during organized activities like Waste Market Day.
SM City Davao and Nokia Philippines have also carried out a program of waste disposal for defective cellphones and batteries where a booth is stationed in the mall for this purpose.
News Provided by COMTEX
No comments:
Post a Comment