Commissioner Monchito Ibrahim of the CICT’s cyber services group, said the PDS highlights the urgent need for legislative action on ICT policies and regulatory functions.
Speaking at the Cebu ICT and BPO (business process outsourcing) Conference Tuesday, Ibrahim said the PDS also addresses the low awareness of the strategic value of ICT.
Ibrahim said the PDS aims to promote ICT as an industry and and an avenue for business
innovation.
It also states plans to provide Internet access to all and teach everyone how to use it. It also aims to incorporate ICT in government functions so it can promote transparency and efficient services.
Ibrahim said that using ICT for e-governance will increase the public’s trust in government, with data publicly available. Technologies will also reduce transaction times.
To do this, the PDs action plan aims to develop a citizens’ Internet portal and upgrade government ICT infrastructure.
As they want to give Internet access to all, Ibrahim said plans are underway to get Internet access to public schools and barangays.
He explained that they are aiming to connect 80 percent of all public high schools and 60 percent of all elementary schools.
While he admitted it is a tall order, Ibrahim said that eventually, the government will no longer have to spend to build school buildings as classes could be held virtually.
The plan includes a professional development program for teachers, educators and trainors.
The PDS plans to scale up publicly-shared Internet access, provide incentives to private sector members who invest on connectivity, promote green ICT and develop and implement a broadband policy.
He said that currently, only 61 percent has access to broadband while 39 percent has no access to the digital world.
Ibrahim said they want 100 percent coverage by the end of 2016.
To build a recognized ICT industry, Ibrahim explained that they want to make the Philippines a global leader in ICT and ICT-enabled industries.
He admitted that the ICT direction of the country was something driven by the industry and not the government driving the industry.
But because “the world has discovered the Philippines” and with many other countries trying to learn from the Philippine experience, Ibrahim said the plan is to strengthen multi-stakeholder councils, research and development, institutionalize the PDS executive issuances, prioritize enabling legislations and mobilize the private sector.
Efforts are being made to make the public aware of ICT and its plans using the new social media.
