GOVPH

FutureGov, Asia’s longest running and multi-awarded magazine for government, healthcare and education, recognized the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)’s two banner projects for their contributions in driving the country towards sustainable development.

Said two projects, the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) and TV White Spaces Technology, gained FutureGov’s nod along with eight other top picks for “helping push the successful modernization in government, education and healthcare organizations in Asia-Pacific region.”

Project NOAH’s mobile application was adjudged as the best in this category for enabling Filipinos to get information relevant to weather conditions and disaster preparedness on the palm of their hands, thereby saving lives and potential economic loss.

“When it comes to accessing real-time information, there is nothing more ubiquitous than a mobile phone. In the wake of natural calamities, new ways of using mobile devices has paved the way for governments and communities to streamline and improve their search and rescue and disaster prevention efforts,” James Smith, managing editor of FutureGov magazine and chairman of judging panel, said.

Project NOAH is DOST’s response to step up national efforts toward greater and more intensive disaster risk reduction and management procedures in the country.
Meanwhile, TV White Spaces Project, another DOST project through its Information and Communication Technology Office (ICTO), received the Technology Leadership Award.

“Leadership is about setting a path for others to follow-and the FutureGov Technology Leadership Award recognizes ICTO-DOST for the scope and underlying vision of the TV White Spaces project,” Smith said.

DOST’s TV White Space Projects is DOST-ICTO ‘s initiative to deploy new wireless data communication standards, such as the unused TV channels in UHF and VHF bands. Apart from providing Internet access to rural communities, TV White Space technologies can also be used to support government projects requiring data connectivity.

Other recipients of FutureGov Awards include the Department of Budget and Management as Government Organization of the Year, Juan Evangelista of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) as CIO of the Year, Revenue Administration Reform Project of Bureau of Internal Revenue for Service Innovation, Personally Controlled Health Records of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for E-Government, Philippine Geoportal of National Mapping Agency for Information Management, Department of National Defense for Information Security and Makati City Hall for Data Center.

The awardees were selected by FutureGov Magazine’s editorial team, who are acknowledged experts in the development of e-commerce in the region. The awarding ceremony was held recently at the close of the annual FutureGov Forum Philippines at the New World Hotel in Makati City.

FutureGov Awards Philippines highlighted the commitment and hard work of the country’s public sector to deliver more reliable and efficient services to its constituents.

DOST Undersecretary Louis Napoleon Casambre , head of the Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO), receives the Best Mobile Application award for Project NOAH (short for Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards ) and Technology Leadership Award  for ICTO’s TV White Spaces Project in the recent FutureGov Awards Philippines held at New World Hotel, Makati City. Project NOAH was recognized for its major role in providing information relevant to weather conditions and disaster preparedness. According to FutureGov Magazine managing editor Mohit Sagar this project has “the greatest potential transformative impact of any of the projects surveyed.” (Photo from FutureGov)

Written by: Allan Mauro V. Marfal   
Tuesday, 23 April 2013 02:06