Gordon to speak at 7th IT Youth Congress

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) will speak tomorrow before information technology (IT) students, professionals and enthusiasts on the importance of information and communications technology in making the country more globally-competitive.

Gordon was invited to deliver the keynote address at the 7th Philippine Youth Congress in Information Technology, an annual conference organized by the University of the Philippines Information Technology Training Center.

The senator, who is a co-sponsor of the bill creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), maintains that ICT would help in the development of the country as it ensures immediacy of action and response to events, and assures global competitiveness.

As chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Gordon has been continuously pushing for the modernization of the organization for its emergency, relief, and rehabilitation operations. For some years now, the Red Cross has been using mobile phones as early warning system, reaction system, and initial life-saving system during emergency situations.

In line with his modernization programs for the PNRC, Gordon launched the Red Cross 143 and created an Operations Center equipped with computers and televisions. The operations center is also connected to all PNRC chapters for prompt response to emergencies.

The senator also said that modern communications technology can be effectively and efficiently used as a tool in promoting democracy, particularly through the computerization of the 2010 Elections.

Gordon, father of election modernization in the Philippines and author of Republic Act 9369 (Amended Automated Election System Law), said that poll automation will not only elevate the country's electoral exercise from third world to world-class but also bring credibility to the elections system and in the leaders of the country.