U.S. Ambassador Ricciardone visits DOST 7

By Roslyn D. Tambago
DOST 7

Cebu City - U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone visited the regional office of the Department of Science and Technology here, which hosts a number of science and technology-related facilities for community and business development last September 2.

U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone (center) and other local and foreign guests listen to Director Rene Burt Llanto's (not in photo) presentation on DOST's functions, services, and programs.

Ricciardone toured DOST facilities that include the open software computer security laboratory, Geoplan Foundation‘s geographic information system facility, Central Visayas Information Sharing Network, and the Confederation of Scientific and Professional Organizations'  ICT training center.

The US ambassador commended DOST's role in the development of business and community in the region, which runs parallel  with the Peace Corps' outreach programs on education, youth, community development, health and HIV/AIDS, agriculture and environment, business development, and information technology.

DOST 7 enjoys the services of PC volunteer Justin Wiley of West Virginia, an ICT expert who trains graduating computer students on open source technologies doing on-the-job training, enthusiasts, and professionals in the region.

Peace Corps volunteer Justin Wiley (right) explains the functions of DOST 7 open source and computer security laboratory to U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone (left) while Director Rene Burt Llanto (back row)  and OSCSL consultant Lawrence Hughes (partly hidden) look on.

Open source refers to software in which the source code is available to the public for use or modification from its original design free of charge. 

The ICT training is one-on-one and hands-on arrangement with minimal amount of lecture and designed to equip trainees with knowledge and skills to develop software, e-commerce, and related projects. 

Other training subjects are secure open source server installation and administration, securing e-commerce, basic Linux, advance Linux, upgrading on basic troubleshooting, data recovery and protection training, among others.