By Joy M. Lazcano

The Department of Science and Technology’s internet portal called “One Stop Information Shop of Technologies” was picked over five others as national finalist for the World Summit Awards (WSA) e-Science and Technology category by an online content related contest.

The team behind OSIST earned tickets to Monterey, Mexico June 12 as among the 40 winning teams in eight categories to be honored during the WSA gala night. The teams will receive certificates and trophies from government and industry leaders, and the United Nations.

OSIST is also a finalist in the e-government website category during the 11^th Philippine Web Awards, the local version of the prestigious international Webby Awards.

According to OSIST project leader Arlene Romasanta, she is proud of what OSIST has accomplished so far since its launch last year. The portal compiled 280 technologies uploaded by partner agencies, which are ready for diffusion and commercialization.

“More and more premium information are being made ready for uploading as S&T projects are completed and assessed as technology ready for transfer,” she added

WSA is a global contest that recognizes the best e-content and innovative ICT applications unveiled in 2003 by the UN World Summit on Information Society as part of an effort to bridge the global digital divide especially in developing countries like the Philippines.

WSA national contests are held in 168 UN member-countries. WSA designated local eminent expert nominate entries, which are judged based on content quality and comprehensiveness, ease of use (functionality, navigation and orientation), value added through interactivity and multimedia, design (aesthetic value of graphics/music or sounds), and craftsmanship (technical realization).

About 500 entries will be evaluated by a grand jury in New Delhi April 1-10, with prominent multimedia experts from around the world converging during the event.

A win by OSIST could boost Philippine image in the ICT industry, promote Filipino ICT professionals and e-products worldwide as benchmark for e-producers, explains Josephine Cacdac, Philippine eminent expert and also programs director for Informatics Indonesia.