Republic of the Philippines

Republic of the Philippines

APT Regional Forum for ICT Experts in South East Asia

“Meeting the Challenges on Digital Gaps Approaching E-Government”

Presentation ByAssistant Secretary Cecilia V. Reyes4-5 February 2004, Jakarta, Indonesia

Community E-Center: Delivering E-Government Services to Remote

Communities

Presentation Outline

i. Philippine Demography

ii. Basic Statistics on Digital Divide

iii. Philippine Community E-Center Program/Project

• Vision and Objectives

• Definition

• Salient Features

• Offerings

• Major Stakeholders

• the Philippines’ 7,107 islands form one of the largest archipelagos in the world.

• the three major island groups are LUZON, VISAYAS and MINDANAO

• divided into 17 regions, 79 provinces, 115 cities and 1,496 municipalities.

• total area is 300,000 sq km (about 115,831 sq mi)

• capital City is Manila.

• population is 76.6 million (May 2000). 81.1 Million (2003 survey)

• Filipinos are Indo-Malay, Chinese and Spanish Ancestry.

THE PHILIPPINES

Republic of the PhilippinesBasic Data and Statistics on Digital Divide

DIGITAL LITERACY (Penetration)

• Literacy (read & write) rate of the population – 92.3 %

• Literacy rate in English language – 70 %

• Growth rate of number of internet accounts, over one year – 100%

• Demography of internet users in terms of Sex – 55% (Female)

• Demography of internet users in terms of Urban/Rural - 90% (Urban)

Republic of the PhilippinesBasic Data and Statistics on Digital Divide

DIGITAL LITERACY (Primary/Secondary Education, 1999-2000)

•Number of schools with PCs as percentage of total number of schools – 14.28%

•Number schools with Internet access as percentage of total number of schools – 2%

•Number of primary/secondary IT trained teachers as percentage of total number of teachers – 13.13%

•Use of ICT in primary/secondary education – computer education, development of lessons, collect/disseminate information

• Number of colleges/universities with PCs as percentage of total number of colleges universities –96%

• Number of colleges/universities with Internet access as percentage of total number of colleges/universities – 47%

• Use of ICT in higher – computer education, development of lessons, collect/disseminate information, administrative function (e.g. student registration, HR, financial management, etc.)

• Number of colleges/universities offering degree in ICT as percentage of total number of colleges/universities – 43%

Notes: 1) Philippine educational institutes recognize ICT degrees conferred by colleges/university across ASEAN.

2) Philippines has dedicated computer training centers (public and private) apart from colleges/universities.

DIGITAL LITERACY (Higher Education, 1999-2000)

Republic of the PhilippinesBasic Data and Statistics on Digital Divide

Republic of the PhilippinesBasic Statistics on Digital Divide

Other• The Philippines has 4.2 % Telephone line density (per 100 people)

• 1.93 PCs for every 100 individuals

• 99% of the 377 National Govt Agencies have websites

• 100% of the 106 State Universities and Colleges are now online

• 100% of the 79 provinces and 115 cities have web presence

• 95% of 1,496 municipalities are online

• 19.36 % of population have access to cellular phone service

The Community E-Center ProgramRepublic of the Philippines

e e

•Our Vision

–To address the digital divide by ensuring that the capability of digital technologies really impact the quality of life of each Filipino, rich or poor by availing of basic ICT services, irregardless of distance.

–To encourage all sectors (govt, private, non-govt) to set up sustainable Community e-Centers in every sizeable community in the country.

•Overall Objectives

- Increase ICT participation in remote communities

–Prepare the access points for delivery of e-government services (national and local, health, agricultural, learning) to smaller communities that don’t have access at all.

–Augment the existing govt effort on solving the ‘last-mile problem’ with private sector and local community participation.

–Provide affordable access to voice and data services to unserved/underserved areas throughout the country.

• An outlet for providing the general public with affordable access to a variety of services using information and communication technologies (ICT),

• such as telephone, Internet access, e-mail, fax, telex/telegram, computer training, distance learning, online services and other kinds of services/information relevant to the community.

• The outlets will be in strategic areas accessible to the common people, such as the municipio, the post office, the barangay hall, or any similar area where most of the local folks congregate almost daily.

Internet

What is a Community e-Center (CeC)?

• Community-based Services Agri products price monitoring & trading, Local content development and data-entry, Local tourism-tour packages/booking

• Special Services for our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their FamiliesVoIP, e-Mail service + WebCam, Job search and placement, PC to SMS services

• Commercial ServicesMoney remittance services, Payment & collection services, e-Procurement services

MAJOR OFFERINGS• Local Government e-Services

Real estate tax payments, Business permits & licenses, Complaint Center

• National Government e-Services Online services from National government agencies, e.g. birth certificate from the National Statistics Office, loan processing and contributions tracking from Social Security System/Government Security and Insurance System, passport renewal from Foreign Affairs, overseas job application tracking, etc.

What services will be offered by CeCs? (1)

ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS• Voice Services

Local/national/international calls, Texting, Phone cards• Data Services

Internet access, e-Mail accounts, PC rental • Business Center Services Domestic/international fax, Telex, Telegram, Photocopying,

Scanning, Typing, Printing

OPTIONAL OFFERINGS• Audio-Visual Services

Business forms design/printing, Audio-visual editing, Web site development, Hosting of SME websites

• Training Services Computer literacy training, Office systems software, Basic internet access training, Distance-education, e-Learning modules, IT-Enabled Services training

What services will be offered by CeCs? (2)

What are the salient features of the project?• Offer affordable telephone calls to remote communities using using VoIP• Prepare the access points for online Govt services• Jumpstart the implementation of CeCs by proving viability and

sustainability of CeCs to interested participants from the private sector

SWITCH

SERVER

PC

VOIP GATEWAY

Leased LineFrame Relay

VOIP GATEWAY

NDDIDD

Applications VoIP hardware, software Multi-media setup LGU servicesEducation / Training Operator training Community users trainingCommunity preparation Advocacy work Workshops, meetings and buy-in activities Marketing and promotions Collateral material Awareness campaigns LaunchingCommunication facilities Equipment cards and interfaces needed for IP LAN Phone booth Business Center equipment Multi-media equipmentCivil works and other improvements Renovation of sites Furniture and fixtures

What are the major components of the project?

Who are the major stakeholders in its success?

Filipino citizens in areas who have no access to a phone and means to get information or be informed

• Families of OFWs• Students with no access to the Internet for

research Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who

have no access to important information and want to reach other markets beyond their area

• Local entrepreneurs (e.g. businessmen, SMEs)• CooperativesGovernment agencies (local and national) who

want to extend their services to more citizens

• Local govt (e.g. Governors, Mayors, Congressmen, Barangays)

• National gov’t (e.g. Statistics Office, Social Security System, Internal Revenue, Foreign Affairs, Labor Dept, Health Dept.Housing Dept.

Commercial establishments who want to offer their existing products/services to hard-to-reach areas

• Financial institutions: (e.g. Remittance Processing, telegraphic transfer)

• Payment and collection (e.g. Bayad Center)

• Buying/selling marketplaces (e.g. b2bpricenow.com, e-Procurement)

Local resorts, travel agencies and touristsNon-Government Organizations (NGOs)• handling returning rebels, housewives,

poorest of the poor)Hardware and Software vendorsInternet Service Providers (ISPs)Education and training institutionsTelecommunication companiesContent providers - local, regional,

nationalApplication providers (e.g. barvangay.net)

Republic of the Philippines

Examples of Philippine ICT Projects Examples of Philippine ICT Projects Addressing the Digital Divide and Capacity Addressing the Digital Divide and Capacity

Building Needs Building Needs

Republic of the Philippines

Community e-Centers (CeCs)

To provide community facilities wherethe public can access a variety of infor-mation and communications services andtechnologies.

Telepono sa Barangay(Telephone in the Barangay)Project

The project plans to establish telephone lines in 3,319 barangays in 14 municipali-ties with local, national and international telephone services. Every barangay shall be provided with 3 payphones using phonecard for outgoing calls and 1 plain ordinarytelephone system (POTS) for incoming callsshall be installed.

Rural population

Rural population

To increase the num-ber of community e-centers available tothe general public.

Establishment ofadditional telephonesin selected areas.

Name of Proj. (Agency) Objective Target Groups Expected Outcome

Republic of the PhilippinesName of Proj. (Agency) Objective Target Groups Expected Outcome

e - LGU (Local Government Units

e-Services)

To give LGUs a head start in computeri-zation by making them morecapable of embracing information communications technology in theiroperations for better public service.

Local Governments Primarily to provide 100 LGUs per year with a web enabled information system using open source technology for better assessment and collection of property and business taxes in a more efficient and transparent manner.

Republic of the PhilippinesName of Proj. (Agency) Objective Target Groups Expected Outcome

PCs for Public Schools Proj. Ensures a continuous stream of technical workers and prepare future knowledge workers for the Knowledge Economy.Consolidate efforts of all sectors to modernize delivery of public education.Provide school-based IT access as catalyst for community development.Integrate computer education in public secondary school system.Reduce computer backlog in public schools.Raise the IT literacy level of teachers and students by providing access to information technology (IT).

Public HighSchool Students

Provide PCs in 1,000 / 3,956 public high schools in 16 regions of the country.

Republic of the Philippines

Cecilia V. Reyes – [email protected]