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ICT Programs by the Philippine Government

Working in a public high school, with the funds mostly from the national government, it pays to know how the higher-ups in Malacañang plan to bring Information and Communications Technology into our schools, barangays and cities.

After all, the government is tasked to ensure universal access to appropriate and affordable ICT technologies. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo even said that ICT is now a powerful tool, making personal interactions, trade and businesses, learning and governance more accessible and efficient.

CICT

The Commission on ICT (CICT) is the lead agency responsible for driving the government’s ICT agenda. Its programs include the development of the Philippine Cyber Corridor, e-government initiatives, human capital development and bridging the digital divide.

Among its many tasks are to ensure ICT infrastructure, systems and resources as instruments for nation-building and global competitiveness; provide ICT services in areas not adequately served by the private sector; and, encourage the use of ICT to develop and promote the country’s arts, culture, education and history.

Some of ICT’s programs and initiatives include:

  1. Celebrated the 110th Independence Day Celebrations in Luneta Park and Burnham Park (Baguio City) with free Internet access
  2. Launched Intel’s Nettop ng Bayan last June 13 as the country’s first Internet-centric desktop PC, retailing at only Php10,000 per unit.
  3. Gathered some 400 school leaders and education champions in the First iSchools Congress to discuss the ICT Integration in Basic Education (ICT4BE) Framework as well as showcase existing, mature, and available educational resources.
  4. Provided 360 beneficiary public high schools nationwide with iSchools Learning Resource Centers as part of their iSchools Project. The center is a wireless internet laboratory that included 21 multimedia computers, a projector, a printer, and two air conditioning units. School heads and teachers underwent a series of ICT-based training workshops on the proper use of ICT integration in teaching and learning.
  5. Launched five computer laboratories in Baguio City and other parts of the Cordillera Administrative Region as part of the iSchools Project. They received a computer laboratory with fifteen PCs, high-speed Internet connectivity for one year, and comprehensive ICT-related training for teachers and administrators.
  6. Promoted the use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) as an alternative to pirated commercial software, which can further reduce the cost of access to ICT goods and services.

The Community e-Center (CeC) Program

With the private sector, local governments and civil society stakeholders, the government is targeting to establish one CeC per region. These CeCs are also specially designed to provide access and training programs for Persons with Disabilities. With these regional ICT centers, local government units can deliver services more efficiently with e-commerce, e-learning and e-government services.

ICT for Education Program

Supporting the efforts of the education sector, ICT for Education Program’s ongoing initiatives include:

  1. a National Roadmap for Faculty Development on ICT in Education. In 2005, CICT assisted the department of Education and the Foundation for IT Education and Development in formulating the National Framework Plan for ICTs in Basic Education (2005-2010)
  2. eSkwela which establishes Community eLearning Centers for the out-of-school youth (OSY), providing them with ICT-enhanced alternative education opportunities
  3. Digital Media Arts Program which will build digital media skills for government using Open Source technologies. Particular beneficiary agencies include the Philippine Information Agency and other government media organizations, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts and other government arts agencies, State Universities & Colleges, and local government units.

Knowing all the agencies and their initiatives, we can get a clearer picture as to where ICT is going in the Philippines, and how we can support these goals.

Sources:

“CICT holds First iSchools Congress.” Retrieved June 10, 2008 from
http://www.cict.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=164&Itemid=1
“CICT launches computer labs in five public high schools.” Retrieved June 10, 2008 from
http://www.cict.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=171&Itemid=1
“CICT to showcase free Internet kiosks at Independence Day celebrations.” Retrieved June 10, 2008 from http://www.cict.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=173&Itemid=1
“Ensuring universal access to ICT.” Retrieved June 10, 2008 from
http://lastmileinitiative.ph/stratplan/stratPI_UniversalAccess_CeC_sub1.htm
"GMA Message.” Retrieved June 10, 2008 from http://lastmileinitiative.ph/stratplan/messageGMA.htm
“ICT for Education.” Retrieved June 10, 2008 from
http://lastmileinitiative.ph/stratplan/stratPI_HumanCapital_ICT4E.htm
“Low Cost Computing.” Retrieved June 10, 2008 from
http://lastmileinitiative.ph/stratplan/stratPI_UniversalAccess_LowCost.htm

(Published 16 June 2008, Smart Communications, Inc.)