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Concept Paper: A Strategic Approach to Bridge the Digital Divide in the
Philippines
by: Renato C. Valencia Private Sector Co-Chair ITECC e-Government Committee
APT Regional Forum, Indonesia February, 2004
A g e n d a
• Perspective on Digital Divide• Philippine Case• A Strategic Approach• Conclusion
P e r s p e c t i v e
On Digital Divide
What is Digital Divide?
Gap between “info-rich” & “info-poor”
“Info-poor” unable to avail of opportunities presented by digital technology to achieve their economic, social & political goals
Unattended: Lead to widening gap
Causes of Digital Divide?
Lack of:
Human capacity
Appropriate regulatory & policy regimes
Access to information/knowledge
Why Care About Digital Divide?
ICT Revolution: significantly contributed to world economic growth and progress Broke time/space barriers: better efficiencies, higher
productivity, lower costs Introduced new ways/lifestyles Built skills/improved education Improved medical science/health care Improved governance/enhanced culture Fostered investments, research Empowered individuals, communities, nations
Digital Divide Indicators(Digital Divide Network)
Global (Global Internet Trends, 1st qtr, 2001) Only 6%, or 429 mm online (41% North America;
27% Europe, Middle East, Africa; 20% Asia Pacific, 4% South America)
US (Dept. of Commerce 2000) w/ computer: 51% (>rest of the world) w/ Internet access
56.8% Asian American/Pacific Islander; 46.1% White; 23.5% Black; 23.6% Hispanic
86.3% w/ $75k p.a. income; 12.7% w/ <$15k p.a. income
Whose Concern is Digital Divide?
The poor? Government? Private sector?
Everyone’s concern; the “haves” realize only by empowering the poor can the world foster peace & prosperity
Problem of Metrics
Can’t measure, can’t manage Tele-density not enough; Better metrics, better management Identify disadvantaged sectors;
quantify problem; provide viable solutions
P h i l i p p i n eC a s e
Human Capacity: Human Capacity: Phil. ProfilePhil. Profile
80 mm population in 7,000 islands Predominantly Malay & Catholic Predominantly young (71% <35 yrs.) Culturally diverse (54 ethnic groups, 111 local dialects, 8
principal; historically influenced by the Malays, Chinese,Spaniards, Americans)
94% literate (73% in English) Per capita GNP: $ 800 30% below poverty line
Human Capacity: Human Capacity: ICT Readiness ICT Readiness in Schoolsin Schools
ICT Readiness in Schools (INNOTECH, 2001; 45,811 schools; 79% response)
w/ electricity: 66.1%; w/o: 30.7% w/ tel.: 13.3%; fax: 2.9%; Internet: 2% (NCR: tel.-
92%; fax-50%;Internet-19%) w/ computers: 14.3% (NCR:87.3%) w/ IT-proficient staff: 18.2% (NCR-75.5%) School heads w/ ICT training, past 5 yrs.: 13.3%
(NCR: 54.5%)
Human Capacity: Human Capacity: Govt. Govt. InitiativesInitiatives
Govt. Initiatives:
$ 12mm: train teachers, equip schools (DECS)
Open Learning/Distance Education Policy (CHED)
Philippines ranked 7th in the Global Web-Quality Index
Also, ranked 6th in e-participation (measure of government’s willingness to interact with citizens over the net)
Regulatory & Policy Regimes
Regulatory and Regulatory and Policy Regimes: ITECC VISIONPolicy Regimes: ITECC VISION
Government Initiatives
• E-Commerce Law• ICT Commission• DICT Bill• ICT convergence
Philippine Report card [Carmichael Consulting, Aug., 2003]
FEATURE REMARKS ASSESSMENT
Policy Making ITECC good
ICT Policy Not fully developed good
ICT Dept DOTC, DTI, DOST fair
Regulation NTC good
Convergence Separate efforts fair
Govt. service limited Very good
Regulatory and Regulatory and Policy RegimesPolicy Regimes
ObservationsObservations
• Digital divide exists; willingness to address problem• No specific plan/policy on Digital Divide; Goals, resource
allocations, timetables tend to be hazy• Disparate initiatives
Access to InformationAccess to Information
CURRENT SITUATION
• Existing programs to un-served areas: only voice services
• Internet access: private sector internet café’s• Pilot tele-centers: widely dispersed,
uncoordinated, and limited scale• Content: minimal• Unsustainable
CATEGORIES/COUNTRIES IDN LAO MAL MMR PHIL SGP THA
TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS per 100 pop. 9.10 2.10 51.21 0.64 21.95 125.50 22.19
CELLULAR MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS per 100 pop. 5.50 1.00 34.88 0.03 17.77 79.14 26.04
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - Internet Hosts per 100 inhabitants 2.20 0.30 31.10 0.00 3.94 479.18 11.75 - Internet Users per 100 inhabitants 191.20 27.10 2731.10 2.07 255.69 5396.64 775.61 - Estimated PCs per 100 inhabitants 1.10 0.30 12.60 0.11 2.17 50.83 2.78
INT'L. INTERNET BANDWIDTH, Mbps (As of 2001) 313.00 2.00 733.00 2.00 237.00 2369.00 642.00
Source: ITU; (http://www.aseanconnect.gov.my)
SELECTED ASIAN ICT KEY INDICATORS
Philippine Case: Findings
• Young, literate, English-speaking, certain level of computer literacy: open to embrace digital technology
• Supportive regulatory & policy regimes• On access to information & knowledge
– Local content must be digitized/translated– Delivery/infrastructure good; un-served areas– Affordability & financing of appliances
• Need for specific, comprehensive, unified plan on digital divide
AS t r a t e g i c A p p r o a c h
Basic PlanBasic Plan
Identify sectors SWOT Analysis
Vision/Mission/Goals Principles/Strategies
Government/private sector-led?Comprehensive?Participants? Roles?Sustainable? Programs/plans of action? Accountability?
Human CapacityHuman Capacity
Early & basic education, esp. for the disadvantaged?
Computer literacy? Open learning/distance education? Roles of government, corporations,
NGO’s?
Regulatory & Policy Regulatory & Policy RegimesRegimes
Champion? Specific Plan on Digital Divide?
Accountable? Coordinated, unified programs?
Laws/incentives addressing digital divide?
Access to InformationAccess to Information
Specific program: digitize/translate files, esp. local content?
Community e-centers: extensive? viable? Commercially unviable areas?
Affordability/financing of access?
ConclusionConclusion
RP has human capacity, as well as regulatory & policy support to embrace digital technology
Must focus on access to information,knowledge
Need for strategic, unified approach to address digital divide in Phil.
THANK YOU !