Last year has made it clear how vulnerable we are to what happens in a pandemic. Businesses temporarily stopped their operations and the government struggles to support the country and its people. But being the resilient citizens we are, we learned to look into opportunities as we welcome 2021 in the pursuit to better our normal. In line with this, the Ateneo de Naga University- Center for Local Government in coordination with the Graduate School-Master in Business Administration and Master in Public Administration Cluster holds its 9th webinar entitled “Better Normal for 2021 and Beyond” focusing on this year’s trends and opportunities in business and governance.
The webinar which was held last 22 January 2021 aims to discuss new business prospects and government leanings. The first resource speaker is Mr. Carlo Buenaflor, Chief Executive Officer of Bigg’s Inc. and Honorary Consul of Spain for Bicol represents the business sector. Mr. Buenaflor starts his presentation by enlightening the participants about not letting a good crisis go to waste.
He then proceeds to share the advances in data analytics, robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the likes. He also tackles different business development such as impact investing, evolved enterprises, virtual market place, and Gen Z Creative. Mr. Buenaflor also gives his insights on the hospitality industry as leisure travel and revenge shopping bounce back.
The second resource speaker is Mr. Wilfredo B. Prilles, Jr., the City Planning and Development Coordinator represents the local government unit of Naga City. Mr. Prilles discusses the role of government which is basically to ensure that we go back to the scene of normal days. He also explains how the local government adapts digitization in their operations most especially in non-touch transactions for government agencies, online payments and even in contact tracing, information dissemination, and promoting personal hygiene. He also highlights how the local companies need to shape up in competition with big brands and giant enterprises. Mr. Prilles shares that the LGUs priority is facilitating the recovery of the city where the up rise of economy is equal to local survival.
It is said that this year is all about recovery and new sets of opportunities for everyone. The webinar taught us that we will be able to lessen the effect of the pandemic if different sectors work together, in this case, business on one hand and the government on the other.
Fr. Roberto Ezequiel N. Rivera, S.J., University President, welcomes the participants with a heartwarming and inspiring message while Dr. Malu C. Barcillano, Director of Center for Local Governance facilitated the webinar. It was streamed in Facebook and YouTube where hundreds of participants can raise their questions through live chats and comments.
Moreover, the live streaming was operated with collaborative assistance of technical support team composed of Mr. Sherwin B. Perez and Mr. Emmanuel P. Llorin of the James J. O’Brien, S.J. Library (headed by the University Librarian, Ms. Edna M. Buenaventura).
To watch the recorder webinar, please refer to these links:
https://www.facebook.com/ateneo.clg/videos/3908505569208021
By: Laizel Joy A. Rodulfo
