To push local developers Cebu should ban foreign apps

CEBU, Philippines — If Cebu is really bent on maximizing its potential in software development, its local government units should ban all foreign online service apps such as Grab and Airbnb, among others.

This is the challenged made by software development guru Joey Gurango expressing confidence of Cebu’s rich talent in software development.

Banning these online service apps may seemed like a bold move, but this radical stance actually worked in China.

“Let’s get high on our own supply,” said Gurango explaining that there is no way a good local start-up can compete against giant service apps like Grab or Airbnb, if they are already dominating the local market.

Prior to the entry of these global service apps in Cebu, there were similar local apps introduced, however because these foreign-developed apps have deep pockets, small local start-ups did not thrive.

Gurango, who worked for Apple Computer, Microsoft as programmer in the United States in the 80s, said Cebu has to insist in exploiting its potential in software development, otherwise local talents will continue to give away their creations or innovations to foreign capitalists and remain employees.

As the founder of Coders Guild, and past president of the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), Gurango’s advocacy is to grow the country’s software industry and become a major contributor to nation-building, and to turn the Philippines into a nation of programmers.

He believes that aside from pushing the academe to improve their course offering in Computer Science and Information Technology (IT), the local government units (LGUs) have critical role in shaping the programming potential of Cebu by supporting local innovations.

Gurangao, who also founded the Gurango Software Corporation, began as a Tech support engineer for Apple.