The MDRU Project in Cebu wins 2016 SEED Alliance Award during the 2016 Internet Governance Forum, in Guadalajara, Mexico, on 6-9 December, 2016.
SEED Alliance offers to assist project teams in developing innovative Internet solutions that address social and economic challenges. The SEED is a collaborative partnership between IP registry organisations in Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The alliance includes FIRE Africa (AFRINIC) for Africa, FRIDA Program (LACNIC) for Latin America, and ISIF Asia (APNIC) for Asia. The alliance has supported 116 projects in 57 economies in the global south to a tune of around US$ 2.2 million helping them to strengthen and promote the Information Society within these regions.
During the IGF 2016 awarding ceremony on December 6, the SEED Alliance recognized the eight innovative initiatives and practices that have contributed to the region’s social and economic development. The winners are:
- AgriNeTT by the University of West Indies (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Mexicoleaks (Mexico);
- Restoring Connectivity: Movable and Deployable Resource ICT Unit (MDRU) by CVISNET Foundation (The Philippines);
- Towards A Fairer Electoral System: 1 Person, 1 Vote, 1 Value by Tindak (Malaysia);
- All Girls Tech Camp by Give1ProjectGambia (The Gambia);
- DocmeUP (Ghana);
- Kids Comp Camp (Kenia) and
- Tobetsa and WiFi TV Extension Project (South Africa).
Personalities that attended the event included Vinton Cerf, popularly known as the Father of the Internet and also the Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google. As well as Dr. Raúl Echeberría, Vice President Global Engagement – Internet Society, Paul Wilson, Director General – APNIC, Phet Sayo, Senior Programme Officer – IDRC, and Oscar Robles, CEO – LACNIC.
Representing the Philippines is the project Restoring Connectivity through the use of Movable and Deployable Resource ICT Unit (MDRU) by the Central Visayas Information Sharing Network Foundation Inc. (CVISNET). CVISNET Executive Director Jeffrey Llanto attended to present the project and receive the award.