1. Aurora A. Rubio INDICATORS ON COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ICT:
Critical Policy and Planning Tools in the Implementation of the Philippine Community E-Center Program (CECP)
Aurora A. Rubio
Department of Transportation and Communications, Philippines
Global Indicators Workshop on Community Access to ICTs
Mexico City
16-19 November 2004

2. 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

3. 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, requiring
mobile 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”

4. CURRENT SITUATION OF PHILIPPINE ICT SECTOR
- 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 fixed
line connections (2002)

5. 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

6. 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 critical
government information and services
- Facilitate trade and commerce and promote SME participation
and development
- To coordinate similar and related initiatives

7. 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.

8. 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

9. COMMUNITY E-CENTER PROGRAM (CECP)

10. 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 Term
Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP)
Update and Verification on some ICT indicators in different geographic
(political) levels being undertaken
Aggressive Information Drive ongoing

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
MARAMING SALAMAT PO.