May be considered is the conversion of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) into the Department of Information and Communications Technology, or DICT. There are similar thrusts in Singapore and Thailand.

(The DOTC’s transportation arm may then merge with the Department of Public Works and Highways to be called the Department of Transportation, Highways and Other Public Works. This new inter-modal department will benefit by having a more focused objective of causing the synergy among the air, land [highways and roads] and marine transportation linkages. Small public works may be concurrently administered by the DPWH and the local government units.)

If the reformation of the DOTC and DPWH is not immediately possible, then the information technology function may still be absorbed by the DOTC and a Department of Information and Communications Technology and Transportation, or DICTT, could then form.

The National Computer Center (NCC) is misplaced under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The NCC may be attached to the DICT. The DOST could take jurisdiction of ICT activities that are still basically in the research stage while all applied ICT can be implemented by the DICT and NCC.

The Information Technology and E-Commerce Council (ITECC) should not be under the DTI. This gives too much emphasis on e-commerce, which is only 30% of the overall global ICT economy. The balance 70% comprise mainly the telecommunication infrastructure aspects. Clearly, this is not within the competence or primary interest of the ITECC head being also the Secretary of the DTI. At least for the then National Information Technology Council, which was absorbed by the ITECC, it may be attached to the DICT. As a matter of course, the policy development in ICT in the comprehensive context and the telecommunications infrastructures may then be given more emphasis, as they should be, vis a vis e-commerce.

The conversion of administrative paper processes into digital form (sometimes referred to as "government online") within two years in accordance with Sec. 27 of the E-Commerce Act needs more attention and funding support from the DBM. The implementation of Sec. 27 is of utmost importance if ICT is to rapidly develop in the Philippines with government essentially as the "critical enabler."

Implement RPWeb with serious funding under Sec. 28 of the E-Commerce Act, Administrative Order 332 and House Resolution 890, that would include, but not limited to, the dramatic reduction of the cost of lease lines, so critical if local Internet usage is to flourish on a mass scale.

Implement Sec. 28 (last paragraph) of the E-Commerce Act that now allows a telecommunications company with a maximum 40% foreign equity to engage in broadcast or cable operations for as long as the activity is limited to the physical infrastructure aspect. The provision promotes convergence of technologies.

Flat pricing or metered monthly telephone access rates at the option of the subscriber is critical to the unimpeded exponential growth of the Internet in the country.

Implement the Government Information Systems Plan with serious funding.

Continue the policy of awarding frequencies by public bidding.

Empowerment, participative democracy and transparency - electronic governance

With the powerful combination of the E-Commerce Act, Administrative Order 332 and House Resolution 890, about 8,000 government offices nationwide can be connected to the Internet under the concept of RPWeb within two years time.

As the Internet is an open system accessible by anyone with a personal computer or shared computer kiosk, RPWeb has the potential of allowing the Filipino public to participate and interact with government offices in a speedy, cheap and efficient manner--all electronically and online. Empowerment of the people, participative democracy and transparency are therefore enhanced.

Information is power and as more information is provided the citizenry, the more empowered they become. Such is the case of Catanduanes, which is the test bed of the Government Information Sharing Network/Catanduanes Internet Network, or "Catnet." Fiber optic cable traverse the streets of the principal town of Virac connecting a state college, high school, hospital, PNP camp and other government offices.

Internet access is available for free to all residents of Catanduanes. In April-May 2000 over four weeks, 3,400 residents in Catanduanes were given free nine hours of basic computer and Internet navigational skills training. Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was keynote speaker during the "graduation" rites in Virac. Department of Social Welfare and Development Lingap funds in the amount of P450,000, or at P132.35 per participant, were used for the mass training.

Inexpensive broadband digital spread spectrum wireless technology to bring Internet to the remote towns and schools of Catanduanes and to mainland Bicol is in the offing.

The Catanduanes experience can be duplicated in other areas across the country.

Government steering and private sector rowing – RPWeb domestic Internet exchange

Instead of the many government departments and agencies installing their own wide area proprietary electronic networks, the DOTC should just "steer" policy to have a single open network, called RPWeb, installed for the entire government organization, thus availing of economies of scale.

The RPWeb network need not even have to be owned or operated by government as the 100 or more private sector Internet service providers (ISPs) in the country can be leveraged to undertake the task. There will be no huge capital cost to be incurred by government as our agency offices need only to subscribe at P1,000 per month for Internet access from the ISPs of their choice . Funding source is their MOOE.

The ISPs are then interconnected through the RPWeb domestic Internet exchange(s), which again shall be operated by the private sector at no charge to government. This is all provided in the E-Commerce Act, Administrative Order 332 and House Resolution 890.

Community-owned government - a modification of the DOTC telepono sa barangay project

Government has no business in business. Hence, it may want to re-study its participation and rationalize the controversial foreign assisted multi-billion peso DOTC telepono sa barangay project costing the taxpayer about P700,000 to P1 million per barangay calling station. Instead of funding the project with scarce public resources and government itself operating the barangay calling stations, the DOTC may just want to adopt the very successful Catanduanes experience in other parts of the country.

In Catanduanes, 103 rural barangays are already utilizing cellular transportable phones as calling station units. The cost to government is only P20,000 per barangay cellular calling station and operation is through a local cooperative whose members are sari-sari store owners and the calling station operators themselves. The operators purchase pre-paid phone cards and charge barangay residents for calls made thereon.

Initial operating capital is acquired from the Land Bank window for cooperatives and small to medium enterprises. Telephone messages/appointment call notices are sent through boy couriers who also earn about P5.00 per message/notice. Average earnings per operator is from P300 for small barangays to P2,000 per month for big barangays.

Government-private sector partnership - a cellular network infrastructure supporting the Catanduanes Barangay Cellular Calling Station Network

In 1993, then Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earmarked P17 million in the general appropriations act for five government cellular extenders in Catanduanes at the request of Rep. Leandro B. Verceles. These extenders, however, could not operate by themselves but needed to be linked to a mother cellular site, later installed by Piltel at a company investment of P40 million. A government-private sector partnership agreement was then signed by the DOTC and Piltel.

The Catanduanes model can be adopted by the DOTC in other rural areas across the country.

The world will not stop for the country to catch up to the terrific pace of ICT progress. With the government as the critical enabler of ICT development in the country, state workers must make it their official obligation to study the computer and master basic Internet navigational skills. This is mandatory under the E-Commerce Act, Administrative Order 332 and House Resolution 890.

Recently, the Commission on Audit through the initiative of Rep. Verceles allowed the acquisition of second hand computers in order to expand usage of ICT among state workers, school teachers and children.

Cause synergy among the air, land and marine transportation linkages as explained above.

Reduction of red-tape at all regional/provincial ports in the country by doing away with many irrelevant permits and clearances and utilize available technologies to solve decades-old problems. This will accelerate the development of inter-regional trade and domestic tourism.

Gradually phase-in the "no touch-no charge" policy on stevedoring/arrastre services at regional/provincial ports.

At no cost to government, the Philippine National Railway south line can connect to the MRT 3 line at Edsa/South Superhighway to promote development in the Laguna Growth Corridor and help decongest Metro Manila. The government may entice a private entity to invest and operate the rolling stock if coupled with the rights to install a station and commercial mall at the public idle land in junction Edsa and South Superhighway and if it will be allowed to commercialize the stations along the railway line to Laguna and Southern Luzon.

Develop "farm-to-port" roads akin to "farm-to-market" roads. DPWH may be the implementing agency.