by Venus Parmisana and Hiroyuki Takita

03 September 2009

Iligan, the Philippines: Through his work with the Cisco Networking Academy, UNV volunteer Roy Lopez Pamitalan aims to bridge the digital divide and offer conflict-affected people alternative futures.

Since 2005, Mr. Pamitalan has worked as UNV volunteer IT Specialist in the Mindanao area of the Philippines, with particular focus in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.  

He believes the cycle of conflict in Mindanao can be interrupted if people have opportunities to engage in the global workforce, and thus seeks to engage the academic community into a new working culture.

The Cisco Networking Academy programme promotes digital opportunities, encourages female inclusion in IT education and industry, and contributes to the economic development of Mindanao. Mr. Pamitalan has travelled extensively in the region to deliver and facilitate on-going IT training to public schools and other educational institutions. His travel in areas with security concerns shows his commitment to his cause.

“Enhanced IT skills for students from less privileged families living in conflicted-affected areas will open new opportunities to improve their future life situation,” he says. “Over time, employment opportunities in industries improve locally and internationally and students from Mindanao become advocates of peace as an option to the conflict.”

An engineer by profession, Roy Pamitalan works in partnership with the Mindanao State University Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Iligan Computer Institute, and other partner organizations he has brought in, such as the Rotary Club of Iligan Bay.

Professor Ernesto Empig, Department Chairperson of MSU-IIT’s Department of Electronics Engineering and a coordinator of the Networking Academy’s IT Essentials Training, echoes the UNV volunteer. “The economic development of a nation depends largely on the quality of acquired education,” he comments.

“Through the Cisco Networking Academy programme, we strive to deliver excellent IT education in the region and create an environment that is conducive to peace.”      

Jacqui Badcock, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines, says: “The Cisco Networking Academy programme demonstrates a collaborative approach and commitment by local communities to address the digital divide and how collectively we can uphold peacebuilding processes in Mindanao.”  

The potential of this programme to improve the lives of people in Mindanao and promote stability in the region has not been lost on other movers and shakers in the community. Dr Emmanuel M. Lagare, Vice President of Academic Affairs in the MSU system, is planning to replicate the programme in MSU’s other campuses in Mindanao.

“The Cisco Networking Academy programme has broadened employment opportunities for the students and helped us to design and develop a non-degree curricular program in the MSU system,” he says. “This programme will equip participants with marketable IT skills in today’s demanding job market,” he says.

Ladislao Tabanao has also integrated the Cisco Networking Academy programme in his regular courses at the IIigan Computer Institute to better serve marginalized people. “As well as building students’ capabilities in essential computer skills, this programme gives students insights and experience into real situations within large companies,” says Tabanao who won the Entrepreneur Award in this year’s Search for The Outstanding MSU-IIT Alumni (TOMA).

“The Cisco Networking Academy program complements the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s existing technical and vocational education and training and gives successful students the competencies to compete in the global IT market,” he adds.

UNV and Cisco have worked in partnership since 2000 to improve IT training opportunities for underserved populations worldwide. To date, Cisco has sponsored more than 110 UNV volunteers in 40 countries.