(Manila, Philippines, January 11, 2006) – The e-Services Philippines (ESP) 2007 Awards is now accepting entries, the Center for International Trade Exhibitions and Missions (CITEM) announced today. Now on its seventh year, the ESP Awards is held annually in conjunction with the ESP exhibition and conference—a major global sourcing event organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its export promotions arm, CITEM.

“While the ESP exhibition and conference brings together the major players in the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, the ESP Awards complements this by recognizing Filipino IT professionals’ world-class competencies as applied to innovative IT products and services. Consistent with the overall theme of this year’s event, the ESP Awards is aimed at showcasing the Philippines’ growing capabilities for knowledge process outsourcing (KPO),” said DTI assistant secretary and CITEM executive director Felicitas Agoncillo-Reyes.

The ESP Awards is open to all exhibitors of ESP 2007, including members of industry associations such as the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc., Business Processing Association of the Philippines, Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Medical Transcription Industry Association of the Philippines, Inc., Game Developers Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Software Industry Association.

Last year’s ESP Awards recognized the best product/service in four categories, namely Wireless/Mobile, e-Business, Technology, Health/Public Service, in addition to the Best Website. The winners were Mannasoft Technology Corporation’s eCommunic8 (Wireless/Mobile), a mobile commerce application that uses SMS function; Mozcom’s PayEasy (e-Business), a Philippine-based online payment gateway system; Pinoy GSM’s Universal Load Dispensing System (Special Citation for Technology category), an IT improvement project for the Maritime Training Council, developed under the initiative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency; and Load.Com.Ph Corporation’s www.load.com.ph (Best Website).

This year’s categories include: Most Innovative Product of the Year, for new applications that utilize existing technology; Most Creative Application of the Year, for entries that upgrade the current functionalities of existing applications; Technology of the Year, for breakthrough technologies that enhance companies’ competitive advantages; Outstanding Company Program, for programs, projects and activities that improve the proficiency, productivity and performance of BPO companies; and Best Website, which recognizes innovative and user-friendly website interface.

Aside from getting recognition, this year’s ESP Award winners will be entitled to prime spots at the ESP exhibit area, and will also be featured in the ESP portal (www.e-servicesphils.com). Deadline for submission of entries is on 25 January 2007, and the finalists will be announced on 26 January 2007. The winners will be awarded during the Networking Reception on 15 February 2007.

The e-Services Philippines 2007 conference and exhibition is scheduled on 15 to 16 February 2007, at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.