'Mindanao concerns' defer RP int'l open source summit
By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10:51:00 08/28/2008
Filed Under: Software, Mindanao peace process
MANILA, Philippines - An open source summit gathering representatives from 21 countries has been postponed due to current security concerns in Mindanao, a local organizer said.
The Asian Open Source Software Conference was originally scheduled this October in Cebu City.
After consultations with sponsors and keynote speakers, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) has decided to move the conference to next year, said Anson Uy, president of local software services firm Touch Solutions, tapped by CICT as event organizer. As the host country, the CICT is organizing the event.
"Some speakers have expressed concerned about the conflict in Mindanao even though the conference will be held in Cebu," Uy told INQUIRER.net in a telephone interview.
The bi-annual event gathers government and private sector groups to discuss open source use. However, Uy said the signing of the memorandum of cooperation between the 21 countries will push through.
The country is expected to benefit from the said pact through support from more progressive countries like Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore in the field of open source.
The conference was founded by Japan-based Center for International Computerization and Cooperation (CICC). Started in 1983, CICC assists developing countries in their computerization efforts under the auspices of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
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