Intel Firms Up Support to the Philippine Internet Café Industry in 2010

By: Gener Morada

Intel Technology Philippines, the largest chip provider, in the country has firmed up support to the internet café industry in 2010.  Noting the importance of the internet café industry in providing affordable internet access to the communities, it has given its full support in organizing the 2010 Mindanao Internet Café Associations Summit (MICAS 2010) in SM City Davao, Davao City on February 18 and 19, 2010.

The Internet Café Association of Davao leads once again in organizing the Mindanao Summit with I-Café Pilipinas as part of the team that would provide support to ensure its success. Next year’s summit would be much bigger, better and bolder than the first one that was held in 2007.

With “Bringing the Benefits of Information Communication Technology to the People of Mindanao through the Internet Cafes” as the theme the summit aims to gather officers and members of different Internet café associations from major cities and provinces, such as Davao City, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Socsksargen, Iligan City, Butuan City, Cotabato City, Zamboanga Peninsula, Digos, Comval, Midsayap and Caraga.

Mr. Carlo Subido, Business Development Manager for Intel’s World Ahead Program confides that in order to bridge the digital divide in the country Intel has taken a two-prong approach.  We work very hard with the ecosystem to make PCs and broadband affordable for the household.  And for those who cannot afford to have their own PC, the internet café is where they can get connected.

Intel would likewise support the different regional events for the rest of the country that I-Café Pilipinas would undertake in 2010.  These events hopes to bring together the officials of the different internet café associations and operators into a national umbrella organization that would provide overall guidance and direction to the development of the internet café industry in the Philippines.