Philippine CeC Roadmap 2011 - 2016

Written By: Administrator on News

304 days ago


PhilCeC Program Strategic Roadmap for 2011-2016
Background
It has been three years since Philippine Community eCenters came together and journeyed along a common path to a vision
set by the Philippine Community eCenter Program Roadmap for 2008-2010.
The PhilCeC program and the first 3-year roadmap set many ICT milestones.
A Philippine CeC Movement
The crusade to bring information and communications technology and its life-changing opportunities to the mass of Filipinos
in the countryside achieved a national focus and dimension. The bridging of the digital divide and widening of the envelope
of digital inclusion the country had formally committed itself
to under the aegis of the World Summit on the Information Society in 2003 and 2005 also gained a national momentum.
The piecemeal and isolated initiatives of many ICT pioneers came together, born of a spontaneous effort to gain direction,
presence and identity, appreciation, and the nourishing strength of a sharing community.
The digital wave of change
The Philippine CeC Program changed the digital landscape of the country. ICT and its benefits were no longer exclusive to
more developed urban centers. They spread to the countryside of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and are there to stay. More
than that, they are to radiate further until they reach every Filipino still on the other side of the digital divide. The program
banners the country's response to international commitments for poverty alleviation through ICT such as those embodied in
the Millennium Development Goals and the World Summit for Information Society Plan of Action. It is a continuing response
to a continuing challenge.
The Philippine CeC has come into its own as an ICT venue open and accessible to many, an accepted community hub with
the information and knowledge to banish the traditional infrastructure and service-deprived isolation of the less developed
countryside. Its promise of ICT changing poverty and life with knowledge and opportunity is more defined and is being
delivered.
But much more is needed, simply because there remains much more to reach. In that is the shape of a new ICT vision.
New milestones call. The new Strategic Roadmap of the Philippine Community eCenter Program for 2011-2016 opens up the
vision and shows the way.
The new Strategic Roadmap of the Philippine Community eCenter Program for 2011-2016 was developed in the essence and
spirit of the pioneer 2008-2010 Roadmap it supplants.
It takes on the onus of the same international and national mandates that spurred the creation of the 2008-2010 Roadmap
with updated responses to evolving needs. Its relevance to the Millennium Development Goals, the country commitment to
the 2003 WSIS Geneva Plan of Action, and the Right to Information of the Philippine Constitution's Bill of Rights endures.
Its place in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and Philippine Digital Strategy (PDS) for 2011-2016 is integral. The PDP's
call for the establishment of a sustainable program on Community eCenters is right up its alley. The Philippine Digital
Strategy is more specific, moving towards a digitally empowered society, a connected nation, broadband internet
penetration to 80% of all barangays by 2016, and the commissioning of the PhilCeC Program and PhilCeCNet for key actions
to achieve these results.
The Strategic Roadmap of the Philippine Community eCenter Program for 2011-2016 anchors itself on the national policy
that recognizes ICT as a primary driving force for national development over the coming years.
How things turn out in terms of our efforts to connect our people with the benefits and opportunities of technology will
greatly determine our countrys success in its drive to bring down poverty levels and introduce a better quality of life for
Filipinos.
The Program moves on two major thrusts:
a. CeC rollout and setup to cover areas and populations of the country that have yet to be connected, and
b. Capacitating human resources to spark the growth of more self-reliant communities and people with knowledge and
options, to have the ability to initiate changes in their lives.
The 2011 - 2016 Roadmap
The preparation of the Philippine Community eCenter Program Roadmap for 2011-2016 renewed the spirit of partnership
[of] many minds and as many hands to set the direction for the next five years. They were guided by the same five original
principles that guided the preparation for the original Roadmap for 2008-2010.
Participation - It is only through the active participation of all CeC stakeholder groups that the Program can gain the
credentials of relevance, validity, and credibility.
Inclusion - It is only through the sustained engagement of all stakeholder groups from planning to implementation and
evaluation that plans and the activation of Program operations may be more effectively aligned.
Focus on the unserved, underserved and vulnerable groups, especially children, women, the disabled and senior citizens -
As the Program prioritizes unserved and underserved communities, so too will it give special attention to those in these
communities who need the most leverage in life children, women, the disabled and senior citizens.
Global perspective; Filipino in spirit - While the Philippine CeC Program promotes openness to global knowledge, technology
and networks for development of the country and the Filipino, this will be in a manner appropriate and relevant to the
needs of local Filipino communities.
Respect and promotion of sociocultural values and cultural diversity - The delicate tapestry of community culture is key for
ICT's successful entry as well as CeC success and acceptability.
As CeCs develop interventions in response to community information and knowledge needs, culturally- and gender-sensitive
CeC knowledge workers with discerning attitudes, skills, and behavior are important.
For the 2nd generation Roadmap, there are two more guiding principles:
Caring for the environment - To facilitate sustainable development in the communities that they serve, the CeCs should set
the example in caring for the environment. The use of green technologies such as renewable power sources that ease stress
on the environment or building awareness and knowledge for environmental protection will be priorities.
Networking and Partnerships - The success of the Philippine CeC Program is strongly hinged on successful partnerships.
Strategic and mutually beneficial relationships must be nurtured. A strong network must support the growth of the
Philippine CeC. This commitment to stronger collaboration extends to maximizing shared resources. With public access
infrastructure such as Internet cafs, public libraries, and school computer laboratories in place, the Philippine CeC Program
should be able to take advantage of these and allow them to acquire some of the responsibilities of CeCs.
The Vision
The first Philippine Community eCenter Roadmap for 2008-2010 envisioned A Community eCenter in every Municipality. The
Roadmap for 2011-2016 moves further inland - Community eCenters towards self-reliant Barangays.
The new vision confronts the reality. There are many still too many Filipinos not connected, without access, still outside the
envelope of digital inclusion.
While there are about 1,416 CeCs dispersed throughout the country, three factors bear scrutiny and shape the magnitude of
work ahead.
First, the number of CeCs does not reflect a one-to-one ratio with municipalities. Some major towns have more than one
CeC. Hence, the outward profile of CeC density and dispersion bears realistic appreciation.
Second, the status, capabilities, and performance levels of CeCs vary. The ratio of functional or performing CeCs against
poor performers or moribund CeCs needs to be more clearly determined and validated.
Third, other variables cannot be ignored. These include continuing infrastructure deficiencies such as erratic or unreliable
power service in certain areas or the relevance and quality of local content and services that would enable CeCs to be more
in touch and responsive to local needs.
Filling in the gaps and expanding the radius of digital inclusion fills the horizon for the vision. The program meets it
squarely, turning its sights to the barangay, the grassroots community - 42,026 of them in the country.
This is where the digital isolation is strongest, where exclusion is extensive, and where the need for a better quality of life is
greatest.
This is where CeCs as hubs for converged digital services and content can introduce rural residents to the digital world and
its opportunities. This is also where the national agenda for ICT such as voice, access, and connectivity for the countryside
can make its greatest difference: the impetus for communities and people with choices and a new power to initiate change
in their lives and communities with the means for self-reliance.
Outcomes
1. CeCs as catalysts for barangay change and growth. The CeC becomes a key hub of the barangay, opening up new ways
of communicating, learning, and connecting with the country and the world.
It enhances information exchange and increases production and competitiveness in agriculture, fisheries, small industry,
trade, labor, and services sectors in the barangay.
2. Enhanced self-initiating and self-reliant barangays and residents. ICT through the CeC opens up new opportunities,
options, and choices for people who become informed and more capable of life-improving decisions and engagement.
Erstwhile full dependence on traditional services and sources of sustenance gradually gives way to local resource
development and utilization, proactive actions, and increased productive interaction with government and other sectors.
3. Improved quality of life for barangay populations. ICT produces tangible impacts on the health, education, employment,
economic status, participation, and social mobility of barangay residents.
The Mission
To promote the socio-economic development and enhance the productivity of Filipino communities through the
convergence and availability of affordable, appropriate, and critical ICT-enabled services in the CeCs, thereby improving the
overall quality of life.
The Goals
These goals stand as pillars for the vision and mission of the program.
1.To establish and strengthen Community eCenters across the country
The fundamental priority of the Program is bridging the digital divide. This is accomplished through the creation of new
CeCs in digitally-excluded areas and can include the conversion of existing public access points such as schools, public
libraries and internet cafes into CeCs. Partnerships with various stakeholders are essential for the second component, which
seeks to harmonize these public access points with the CeC philosophy and concept, funnel converged content and services
to them, and ultimately transforming them into CeCs.
The Program is also committed to further develop and strengthen current CeCs through policy influence, guidelines for
sustainable operations and management, as well as continuing support through infrastructure, internet connectivity and
linkages between CeC knowledge workers.
2. To provide and develop services & content for socio-economic development of communities
Appropriate and relevant services and content that meet established standards are important in the utilization of CeCs
because they are vital to the CeC's place in a community. It is through provision of these services and content that we
enable barangays the opportunity for economic development as well as social change.
3.To ensure availability of competent CeC knowledge workers
CeC Knowledge Workers are the backbone of the Philippine CeC Program and as such, the development of competent CeC
Knowledge Workers is integral to the relevance and sustainability of the CeCs.
4. To provide communities with knowledge to achieve alternative solutions to power, connectivity and technology concerns
The Program is also concerned with issues that communities have on power, connectivity and technology and is willing to
help them find solutions in addressing these issues, by laying out their options and pointing them in the right direction.
5. To promote the value of the Philippine CeC Program to the growth of self-reliant communities towards earning the
support of decision makers, leaders and stakeholders
The Philippine CeC Program also relies on the continued support of different leaders and key decision makers in
government, both national and local, as well as various stakeholders who invest their time and resources towards the
success of the Program. It is vital to keep these parties informed on the value and the achievements of the Philippine CeC
Program to ensure continued commitment and support of all its initiatives.
Components
CeC Development and Management
The CeC Development and Management component targets Goal 1. Three thrusts characterize it: establishing,
strengthening, and harmonizing.
The creation of new CeCs is basic to extending the reach of the Program as well as increasing people access to the Internet.
This involves providing hardware and training to new CeCs.
Strengthening involves providing reinforcement grants to develop current CeCs and CeC Knowledge Workers. It is here, too,
where the efforts of the different stakeholders involved in the Program are consolidated.
All of these initiatives will work towards achieving the targets recommended by UNESCAP, which sets the standards of
adequate access of citizens to public access points as one public access point per ten thousand (10,000) people.
Succinctly, this component shall:
Develop a set of policies and guidelines for the establishment & sustainable operation of CeCs.
Provide grants and incentives towards the strengthening of current CeCs.
Ensure support of key stakeholder groups for the establishment & sustainable organization of CeCs in barangays.
This component highlights partnerships between public and private sector content providers in achieving the emergence and
operation of CeCs not merely as access points or hubs but as responsive and effective information servers and exchangers
delivering content of pertinent value to users.
CeC Services & Content
The CeC Services & Content component sets its sights on Goal 2 - ensuring relevant services & content for CeC users. The
component has four strategies to bring this about:
Develop standards for CeC services & content
Develop new services & content relevant to the needs of communities
Develop the capability of CeCs to generate localized content
Design & facilitate the implementation of a mechanism for access to services & content from government and non-
government portals through CeCs
This component highlights partnerships between public and private sector content providers in achieving the emergence and
operation of CeCs not merely as access points or hubs but as responsive and effective information servers and exchangers
delivering content of pertinent value to users.
Capability Building
In response to Goal 3, the Capability Building component shall ensure the availability of competent and motivated
knowledge workers in every CeC. The telecentre.org-Philippine CeC Academy (tPCA) shall be training arm of the Program.
Develop the capacity of CeC Knowledge Workers towards building self-reliant communities.
Provide learning opportunities for CeC Knowledge Workers.
Ensure continuous knowledge sharing among members of the CeC community.
Technology Solutions
The reality on the ground calls for basic responses and solutions if ICT and CeCs are to fully assume their roles and become
engines of community growth, access, and self-reliance.
The Technology Solutions component of the Philippine CeC Program will assist communities to cope with issues on
connectivity, power and technologies.
It will provide consultancy, offer potential solutions, and connect them to other CeC partners and organizations which can
provide tools and resources to actualize these solutions. This component also recommends Green ICT practices in CeCs.
The following action areas make up this component's response to Goal 4:
Develop a comprehensive picture of the CeC infrastructure and connectivity situation across the country.
Encourage CeCs to adopt and apply innovative solutions to address power and connectivity issues, as well as to adapt to
new & green technologies.
Advocate the provision of high quality affordable broadband services to all barangays.
Promotions and Advocacy
The need for advocacy and promotion of the Philippine eCenter Program and the country's CeCs cannot be underestimated.
Now, more than ever, policy-makers and decision makers in all levels of governance need to see and appreciate the value
and cross-cutting benefits of ICTs and CeCs, not only as vehicles for universal access and digital inclusion but as potent
tools for community development. In their hands and decisions lie the resources, the driving forces, and the authority to
give ICT and CeCs the institutionalization and sustainability that are needed and deserved.
This component will focus on a sustained campaign to educate and empower leaders and people on the increasing
relevance of ICTs to modern life. It will also show ICT and CeCs working to bring about equitable access to and utilization of
various content and services, such as those provided through e-government. The following communications and promotions
strategies will be pursued:
Raise awareness and appreciation of intended audiences on the importance of the Philippine CeC Program;
Mobilize communities, including government agencies, to support and participate in the Program; and
Influence local government units (LGUs) to make Community eCenters as a priority development project. These initiatives
will have to be strengthened and supported by all stakeholders, especially local government units. A Communications Plan
to promote the program and its goals will guide the communication and advocacy thrust.
Programmed Activities
The following are the programmed activities by component for the period 2011 to 2016:
1 - CeC Development and Management
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Accredit CeCs to higher or upgraded
level

Accredited Cafes as CeCs

Develop a CeC Operations Manual

Define CeC business models

Define guidelines for the clustering of
Barangaysto identify focal sites for the
establishment of CeCs at the barangay
level
2011-2012
Establish CeCs 2011-2016
Institute and expand CeC award
system

Provide grants to strengthen existing
2011-2016

CeCs
Lobby for legislative support at the
national and local levels
2011-2016

Prepare justifications for CeC plantilla
positions and coordinate initiative with
the Civil Service Commission
2011 -2013

2 - CeC Services and Content
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Conduct survey of CeC services and
content

Develop guidelines for the minimum
2011-2012
Lobby with NGAs to recognize CeCs
as conduits for delivery of e-
government services

Develop and strengthen partnerships
and access mechanisms with content
and service providers with government
and non-government portals
2011 - 2016




2011 - 2016

Share content among CeCs

Capacitate communities to develop
own content (including use of ICT
tools), including those focusing on
business & entrepreneurship
2011 - 2016

2011 - 2016

Provide incentives for development
and localization of content

Conduct feasibility study on using
other content delivery platforms

Train a community of developers
specializing in these other delivery
platforms
2011 - 2016


2011 - 2012


2011 - 2016

3 - Capability Building
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Conduct CeC Management Courses,
including CeC Courses on Business &
Entrepreneurship
2011-2016
Organize and conduct annual
Knowledge Exchange Conferences

Enhance and maintain the PhilCeC
Program Portal

Conduct Exchange Visits between
CeC Managers

Develop and disseminate publications
2011 - 2016


2011 - 2016


2011 - 2016


2011 - 2016

4 - Technology Solutions
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Update CeC Infrastructure and
Connectivity Records
2011-2016

Produce and disseminate white papers
and a case study
2011-2012

Formulate CeC Relevant 'Green
ICT' Policies

Disseminate 'Green ICT' policies and
practices
2011-2013


2012-2016

Conduct a PPP Nat'l Campaign for
Connectivity
2011-2016

Organize and conduct Information
Exchange Fora on new technologies
2011, and then twice a year


5 - Promotions and Advocacy
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Implement Communications Plan
(IEC, linkages, press releases,
orientation and briefing of Local Chief
Executives, tours, visits, websites)

Organize and Conduct National CeC
Day
2011-2016



Strengthen linkages with National
Government Agencies, Local
Government Units, communities and
the private sector
Document success stories and best
practices
2011-2016
Build or form partnerships/
alliances/coalitions
(find champions, discuss need for
coalition-building and potential goals,
resources, activities, evaluation, etc)
2011-2016

Gather support from LCEs and
Legislative
Assemblies
2011-2016

Key players and Stakeholders
Information and Communications Technology Office, Department of Science & Technology
Administers and manages the Program, provides overall supervision, ensures financing and coordinates resource
mobilization and builds public private civil society collaboration in national and local levels in pursuit of Program goals.
Executive/Legislative Branch
Promulgates laws towards successful CeC scaling and to allocate the resources needed. Line agencies, GOCCs, GFIs can
provide content to the CeCs and use CeCs as delivery channels for information and services.
Energy and Telecommunication Companies
Provide power and connectivity for existing and potential CeCs under the regulation of DOE and DOTC-NTC.
Local Chief Executives and Heads of Schools
Provide direction to individual CeCs, as CeC champions in their respective communities, working towards sustained access to
resources and to be an inspiration to the CeC workers.
Content Providers/Developers
Ensure availability and access to relevant, updated content & services.
Funding Agencies and Development Institutions
Supplement the financial and technical resources that are available for CeC development.
Philippine CeC Network Inc. (PhilCeCNet)
Support implementation of the Philippine CeC Program and provide consultancy, research and advocacy services for CeCs.
telecentre.org - Philippine Community eCenter Academy (tPCA)
Deliver relevant, useful and good capacity building programs as a consortium of ICT capability building institution members
CeC Knowledge Workers
Design individual CeCs as tools for development, mechanisms for networking and provide voice for communities.
Media
Contribute to the advocacy and collaboration that will help create, motivate and sustain successful CeCs.
Local Government Associations
Become responsible for some advocacy and promotions duties. They serve as the Champions of the Philippine CeC
program.
iCafe Associations
Serve as additional access points for communities
Successful and Established CeCs
Act as key players in the Philippine CeC Program by providing best practices and inspiration for others.
Communities
Nurture the CeCs through their sustained engagement in CeC activities and patronage of CeC facilities and services.