Nominations for 14th Int’l ICT Awards extended to Feb. 7

THE deadline for online nominations for the prestigious 14th annual International Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Awards Philippines has been extended to February 7.

This was announced by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CanCham), organizer of the premier ICT awards program for the Philippines, after it received requests for an extension of the January 31 given the disruption in January in transportation and working conditions in some areas due to the Taal volcano eruption and the risk of the Corona virus spreading.

The gala night, however, will push through as scheduled on April 2 at the Marriot Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

In a statement, CanCham President Julian Payne stressed that they recognize the impact of these unexpected conditions for potential nominees in some areas and has extended the deadline for on-line receipt of nominations for all potential nominees for the 2020 International ICT Awards from Friday 11.59 pm on January 31 to Friday 11:59 pm on February 7.

The International ICT awards - Philippines seek to recognize excellence and raise public awareness of the best companies in the call-center and business process outsourcing industry in the country.

Payne further pointed out that the organizing committee notes that, under all circumstances, including these unexpected ones with an extension of the deadline, an organization that has already submitted a nomination with required supporting inputs prior to the original deadline has the option to re-submit an updated nomination up to the extended final deadline.

"Organizations that choose to submit an updated nomination must re submit a new complete nomination with all required inputs. Submission of just specific amendments to sections of a nomination already submitted earlier will not be accepted and the nomination as originally submitted with all required inputs forwarded for judging," he said.

With endorsements from various government agencies, CanCham has come up with a more “expanded and enhanced” selection.

According to Payne, they have expanded the scope of the award categories this year. Besides the Premier and Select Category Awards, Payne pointed out that they have included the Industry Sector Awards for the ‘best companies using ICT services in a range of major industrial sectors.”

Furthermore, the selection process has been significantly upgraded with the addition of a “preliminary independent verification stage.”

“This will ensure that the information in the nominations matches the eligibility criteria and that all information needed is complete and confirmed before a nomination is submitted for adjudication by the judging panel,” Payne said.

He added that an independent compliance officer will be retained to conduct the verification process and an internationally recognized ICT expert has been appointed as independent professional adviser for the event.

Former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Monchito “Mon” Ibrahim, meanwhile, has agreed to serve as senior adviser for this year’s ICT awards.

To be eligible for the Premier Award, companies must be nominated and be a finalist “for at least one” of the Select Category or Sector Award. They must also be in operation in the country for at least three years.

Payne noted that the endorsements from the DICT and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), including the support from the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines has “assured the stature of the ICT Awards as the premier ICT awards program in the Philippines.”

The Premier Awards include Best Company of the Year, Best Employer of the Year, and Best Support for Sustainable Development.

For the Select Category related to origin and status, the awards include Best Filipino-Owned Company of the Year, Best Foreign-Owned Company of the Year, Best Company of the Year Outside the National Capital Region, Most Innovative Company of the Year, Best Start-Up Company of the Year, Best Contact Center & BPO Company of the Year, Best Global In-House Center Company of the Year, and Best Software Development and Information Technology Company of the Year.

Under the Industry Sector, the awards include Best Company of the Year for ICT Services in the following industries: Accounting, Agribusiness, Creatives, Education, Health, Manufacturing, Tourism, and Transportation.

Special awards will also be handed out for Best Front-Line Team of the Year in an IT/BPM Company and Hall of Fame.

Companies have only until February 07, 2020 to submit their nominations via www.ictawards.org.ph