INDICATORS ON COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ICT:
Critical Policy and Planning Tools in the Implementation of the Philippine Community E-Center Program (CECP)
Aurora A. RubioDepartment of Transportation and Communications, Philippines
Global Indicators Workshop on Community Access to ICTsMexico City
16-19 November 2004
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
• Brief Background on the Philippine Telecommunications
• Selected Sector Statistics
Sector
• The Community E-Center Program
• Indicators as Critical Policy and Planning Tools
• Conclusion
THE PHILIPPINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR
Philippine telecommunications sector is distinctive in a number of ways:
• One of the few countries where telecommunications services have
• Very competitive telecom market
historically been provided by private entities
• Innovative regulatory requirement to promote universal access, requiringmobile and international telecom carrier to install specific number of lines within specific period
• One of the oldest telecom regulators in the world
• One of the first countries where mobile has exceeded fixed line subscription
• “SMS Capital of the World”
- Facilities distribution uneven
- Demography of internet users: 90% urban
- Schools with PCs: 14.28% (2000)
- Schools with internet access: 2% (2000)
CURRENT SITUATION OF PHILIPPINE ICT SECTOR
• ICT INFRASTRUCTURE and ITS COVERAGE RELATIVELY LIMITED
- 1.93 PCs for every 100 population
- Close to half of the cities and municipalities still without fixedline connections (2002)
CURRENT SITUATION OF PHILIPPINE ICT SECTOR
• LITERACY RELATIVELY HIGH
- Literacy rate: 92.3%
- Literacy rate in English Language: 70%
• ON BEING ON-LINE
- 99% OF 377 National Government Agencies have websites
- 100% of 106 State Universities and Colleges are now on-line
- 100% of the 79 provinces and 115 cities have web presence
THE COMMUNITY E-CENTER PROGRAM (CECP)
Our Vision: To address the digital divide by ensuring that the capability of digital technologies truly impact the quality of life of all Filipinos, empowering rural communities socially, economically and politically.
Our Objectives:
- Link communities together
- To serve as vehicle in the electronic delivery of criticalgovernment information and services
- Facilitate trade and commerce and promote SME participationand development
- To coordinate similar and related initiatives
CECP GUIDING PRINCIPLES
• The provision of access to information and communications services in rural, remote and underserved areas is a key to accelerating development
• The success of the program depends on the efficient and effective partnership of the public and private sectors.
• Content is an essential component of the CECP and its sustainability.Content and applications must be adopted or developed to suit the particular needs and conditions of the local community.
• The government, as a model user of ICT, should accelerate its efforts in developing content, particularly those that are used in the delivery of public services.
• The provision of telecommunications and IT facilities is not a goal in itself.
RELATED INITIATIVES…. Here and There
• Telepono sa Barangay
• PCs for Public High Schools Project
• Pilot Multipurpose Community Telecenters (MCT)
• Establishment and Computerization of Barangay Reading Centers
• Text 2 Teach
• Local Government Units e-Services
• SSS Application Project and other Government Applications
• And a lot lot more
COMMUNITY E-CENTER PROGRAM (CECP)
STATUS OF CECP
• Inventory of related projects for coordination and alignment purposes
• Exact No. of CECs unknown. No registration required
• Telecommunications Office establishing III CECs in 39 provinces under the E-Government Fund
• E-Frontline government services aggressively undertaken, per mandate of E-Commerce Act
• Coverage and Quantity Targets already incorporated in the Medium TermPhilippine Development Plan (MTPDP)
• Update and Verification on some ICT indicators in different geographic(political) levels being undertaken
• Aggressive Information Drive ongoing
ICT INDICATORS AS POLICY AND PLANNING TOOLS
• Provides policy makers and planners a good overview of current situation vis a vis targets
• Identify gaps and subsequently strategies to narrow the gap
• Tool for benchmarking
However,
• Accuracy and timeliness are critical factors; difficult to attain
• Has cost implications
• Conflicting and misleading data cause serious concern
ON GLOBAL INDICATORS PRESENTED IN THIS FORUM
• Set of Indicators may serve as a blueprint to plan and monitor country’s response to the WSIS Plan of Action
• May also be worthwhile to refer to indicators developed in other fora, i.e.,APEC TEL
• May consider other indicators such as affordability, acceptable or common applications, etc.
OTHER CONCERNS
• Capability to gather data
• Common understanding of definition of terms
• Frequency of Update
• Resolution of Conflicting Data
• Converting raw data into usable and realistic policies, plans and programs
• Cost
CONCLUSION
• ICT Indicators are important policy and planning tools
• Developing countries generally lack information on various indicators
- Cost implication
- Limited manpower and other resources
- Conflicting interpretation of terms and procedure used
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
MARAMING SALAMAT PO.