Republic of the Philippines

1. Presentation By Assistant Secretary Cecilia V. Reyes 4-5 February 2004, Jakarta, Indonesia Republic of the Philippines APT Regional Forum for ICT Experts in South East Asia “Meeting the Challenges on Digital Gaps Approaching E-Government” Community E-Center: Delivering E-Government Services to Remote Communities

2. Presentation Outline • Philippine Demography • Basic Statistics on Digital Divide • Philippine Community E-Center Program/Project • Vision and Objectives • Definition • Salient Features • Offerings • Major Stakeholders

3. 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

4. Republic of the Philippines Basic Data and Statistics on Digital Divide DIGITAL LITERACY (Penetration) • Literacy (read & write) rate of the population – 92.3 % • Literacy rate in English language – 70 % • Demography of internet users in terms of Sex – 55% (Female) • Demography of internet users in terms of Urban/Rural - 90% (Urban) • Growth rate of number of internet accounts, over one year – 100%

5. Republic of the Philippines • 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 Basic Data and Statistics on Digital Divide DIGITAL LITERACY (Primary/Secondary Education, 1999-2000)

6. Republic of the Philippines Basic Data and Statistics on Digital Divide DIGITAL LITERACY (Higher Education, 1999-2000) • 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: • Philippine educational institutes recognize ICT degrees conferred by colleges/university across ASEAN. • Philippines has dedicated computer training centers (public and private) apart from colleges/universities.

7. Republic of the Philippines Basic 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

8. Republic of the Philippines The Community E-Center Program • 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. e e • 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.

9. 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. Internet What is a Community e-Center (CeC)? • 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.

10. What services will be offered by CeCs? (1) 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. • 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 Families VoIP, e-Mail service + WebCam, Job search and placement, PC to SMS services • Commercial Services Money remittance services, Payment & collection services, e-Procurement services

11. What services will be offered by CeCs? (2) 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

12. VOIP GATEWAY VOIP GATEWAY NDD IDD Toll Center Leased Line Frame Relay SWITCH LOCAL EXCHANGE CeC PC SERVER 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

13. What are the major components of the project? Applications • VoIP hardware, software • Multi-media setup • LGU services Education / Training • Operator training • Community users training Community preparation • Advocacy work • Workshops, meetings and buy-in activities Marketing and promotions • Collateral material • Awareness campaigns • Launching Communication facilities • Equipment cards and interfaces needed for IP • LAN • Phone booth • Business Center equipment • Multi-media equipment Civil works and other improvements • Renovation of sites • Furniture and fixtures

14. 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) • Cooperatives Government 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 tourists Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) • handling returning rebels, housewives, poorest of the poor) Hardware and Software vendors Internet Service Providers (ISPs) Education and training institutions Telecommunication companies Content providers - local, regional, national Application providers (e.g. barvangay.net)

15. Republic of the Philippines Examples of Philippine ICT Projects Addressing the Digital Divide and Capacity Building Needs

16. Republic of the Philippines Objective Target Groups Expected Outcome Name of Proj. (Agency) Community e-Centers (CeCs) To provide community facilities where the public can access a variety of infor- mation and communications services and technologies. Rural population To increase the num- ber of community e-centers available to the general public. Telepono sa Barangay (Telephone in the Barangay) Project Rural population 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 phone card for outgoing calls and 1 plain ordinary telephone system (POTS) for incoming calls shall be installed. Establishment of additional telephones in selected areas.

17. Republic of the Philippines Objective Target Groups Expected Outcome Name of Proj. (Agency) e - LGU (Local Government Units e-Services) To give LGUs a head start in computeri- zation by making them more capable of embracing information communications technology in their operations for better public service. 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. Local Governments

18. Republic of the Philippines Objective Target Groups Expected Outcome Name of Proj. (Agency) PCs for Public Schools Proj. Public High School Students Provide PCs in 1,000 / 3,956 public high schools in 16 regions of the country. 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).

19. Republic of the Philippines www.gov.ph Thank you. Cecilia V. Reyes – selya@dotc.gov.ph