PWC, VisMin partners celebrate BCYF Philippine Innovation Month – VisMin Edition

The Benita and Catalino Yap Foundation (BCYF) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) held the virtual celebration of the Philippine Innovation Month VisMin Edition through a 3-day webinar series on February 2-4, 2021 via Zoom.

The event was jam-packed with educators, industry captains and practitioners in the hotel and restaurant sectors, travel and tour operators, general tourism, support service providers, together with other government tourism and related regional functionaries in Visayas and Mindanao.

Over a thousand participants registered for the webinar which was hosted virtually by PWC of Davao and partners from the VisMin Industry Academe Innovation Council.

Mr. Diosdado Codoy, Jr., Director of Human Resources, SEDA Ayala Center Cebu and Vice President of People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP)- Cebu, Inc. served as the moderator for Day 1, with the topic Tourism Innovations in these Times of Pandemic.

 The event was officially opened with messages from Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, BCYF Founder and Chairman Mr. Antonio Yap, and BCYF Philippine Innovation Month- VISMIN Edition Chairman Mr. Felix O. Tiukinhoy Jr.

 As Day 1 keynote speaker, Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat shared how the tourism sector has resorted to digital innovations such as online tourist guide courses, contactless transactions, enhanced contact tracing, and information campaigns/programs for travelers.

 Several platform speakers also presented the innovative practices in their organizations, including Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Chief Executive Advisor Andrew Harrison, Hotel, Restaurant, Resort Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Alfred Reyes, Cebu Association of Tour Operators Specialist (CATOS) president Alice Queblatin, Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary for Tourism Development Planning Roberto P. Alabado III, and DOT-accredited tour guide and content creator Olan F. Emboscado.

 Sharing their insights as panel reactors were Pages Holdings, Inc. (PHI) Chairman and CEO Bunny Pages, Mayor of General Luna, Siargao Hon. Cecilia Rusillon, Alturas Group of Companies HRD Director Nora Pahang, DOT XI Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan, and Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Dr. Malou Monteverde.

Dean of the Southwestern University (SWU) PHINMA Business Management Program Daniel T. Saracin served as moderator for Day 2, which featured discussions on Cities of the Future/ Smart Cities.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the local government’s initiatives towards achieving the vision for Cebu City. He also recognized the expertise and capability of the private sector in working with the government to address public needs and aid in infrastructure development.

Other speakers included Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, Cebu Vision 2050-Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board Executive Committee chairman Alan Gordon Joseph, PLDT Enterprise Head of CRB for Public Sector Alvin Martinez, and SWU PHINMA Vice President for Student Life Gilbert Magno Braganza.

With the topic Shared Facilities and Innovation in Education, Day 3 was moderated by Dr. Aristotle Carandang, Research for Development, Innovation and Publications Director of the Philippine Women’s College of Davao.

 The roster of platform speakers consisted of DOST XI Regional Director Dr. Anthony C. Sales, CESO III, PWC of Davao program chair for Food Technology Ma. Christina B. Ramos, PWC of Davao Center for Innovation and Social Ventures head Emi L. Englis, University of San Carlos (USC) assistant chair and professor Engr. Isabelo Rabuya, and USC Office of Research Patenting and Trademark Office director Dr. Danny Largo.

 The speakers from PWC presented how the institution’s shared service facilities such as the DOST-supported Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC), STITCH, and the museum function towards crafting solutions to issues on food security and cultural preservation.

Day 3 concluded with insightful takeaways from panel reactors CIT University Network and Linkages Office head Engr. Concordia Bacalso and PWC of Davao Chancellor & Chief Operating Officer Prof. Vicente Antonio V. Pijano III.

“What is needed is that innovations are not there just for the purpose of developing them but also helping the communities we work with,” shared Prof. Pijano, “we at PWC and the USC have come up with a model wherein every activity that we do actually has a social impact—the role of universities and colleges is to be the purveyors of ideas and making those ideas a reality. In the end, the result of research and innovation must be able to fulfil the common need of the communities we serve.”

The 3-day webinar was also broadcasted live on the VisMin Industry Academe Innovation Council Facebook page, which garnered views from educators, students, and industry practitioners from all over the country. 

The BCYF Philippine Innovation Month celebration is currently on its second week, this time hosted by the North Luzon CSR Council.

RCM