TO bridge the existing digital divide in the country, the government and the private sector are urged to invest in education and infrastructure, and to foster an environment conducive to information and communication technology (ICT) opportunities.
The digital divide—or the division between those who have access to new ICT infrastructure and those who do not—is an “opportunity for market penetration” by service providers that have the capabilities to close the gap.
Francisco Claravall, Globe Telecom enterprise segments sales head, said only about 14 million Filipinos are exposed to ICT. Of the 14 million, only about 16 percent has direct access to the Internet via computer laboratories or Internet cafés.
In his keynote speech during the e-governance and digital marketing conference last Tuesday, Claravall said service providers like Globe have evolved their businesses from “one customer-one access platform” to managed services and content that provide better value for customers and allow them to earn revenues.
Stages
Claravall said the digital divide has three stages: economic, usability and empowerment. The Philippines, he said, is still in the economic stage because it is still in the process of making personal computers and broadband infrastructure affordable to consumers.
“The usability (stage) requires content of ICT to be formatted or tailored for different segments, including those with low literacy and senior citizens. The empowerment stage ensures participation in the network,” he said.
“We are looking very hard on how to close the digital divide because there is a demand for it, even when revenue is continually pressuring companies. As we invest in new technology, we strive to keep production costs low but still be able to provide quality service,” he stressed.
Claravall called on the government and companies to invest in education with emphasis on language, science and math. He also raised the need for investments in infrastructure and for government to enact policies that promote an environment conducive to ICT development.
Text messaging
Meanwhile, some government agencies, particularly the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), have invested in text messaging to promote their programs.
To enhance tax consciousness, BIR implemented, starting 2003, an e-raffle program called, “Bayan, I-txt and Resibo,” via short messaging system (SMS) and use of random selection software for determination of winners.
BOC, on the other hand, launched the electronic-to-mobile (e2m) plan to minimize face-to-face transactions and encourage stakeholders to transact business—such as filing, paying, tracking and releasing shipments—through mobile phones. BOC is also planning to use a mobile phone cash remittance system as an alternative payment gateway for its clients who need
to pay their customs duties and taxes and other accounts.
Bridging the digital divide can also be done through e-mail, blogging, vlogging (video blogging) and instant messaging, among others.
Donald Lim, president and chief executive officer of Yehey! Corp., observed that there is significant growth in website penetration in Asia, Europe and Middle-East.
To help support this trend, Ricardo Santos, special assistant to Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, said the Department of Education is working towards integrating ICT in school curricula by, among others, providing ICT-enhanced lesson plans and multi-media learning resources. (NRC)
