Friday, October 05, 2007 Students push for approval of Foss Act
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A group of students of a public high school in Koronadal City urged the House of Representatives to support the immediate passage of House Bill 1716 or the proposed Free and Open Source Software (Foss) Act of 2007 filed by Bayan Muna partylist Representative Teodoro Casiño.
In a statement, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) students of the Koronadal National Comprehensive High School stressed that the government should take lead in promoting the development and use of Foss in the country.
HB 1716 specifically mandated the use of Foss and open standards in government departments and educational institutions.
"It is a landmark measure that could open greater opportunities for both the government and the information and communication technology industry. The government should promote the development and use of Foss in the Philippines, promote migration to FOSS and employ open standards in all its digital information and communication systems," the group said.
The students issued the statement during the two-day Open Technology Fair 2007, an event that highlights the Foss launched by the KNCHS ICT students and faculty over the weekend.
They also presented more than 1,000 signatures endorsing the proposed Foss Act of 2007.
The statement of support and the signatures were received by Dr. Francisco Sarmiento III, project officer of the United Nations Development Program-International Open Source Network-Asean+3.
Sarmiento said he will personally endorse the documents to the office of Representative Casiño during the scheduled launching on Thursday of an OpenOffice training program at the House of Representatives.
"This is big relief to the criticisms and opposition the Foss Act has been getting. This really inspires us to work harder for the promotion of Foss," he said.
Casiño initially the proposed Foss law during the 13th Congress but it faced an uphill battle and was eventually overtaken by its adjournment. He has re-filed the proposed Foss Act in the present Congress.
Sarmiento said the proposed law is again facing tough challenges but he said they remain optimistic with its passage.
"Basically, the problem is that most of our congressmen still lack awareness and proper understanding about and we're now trying to address that," he said. (Allen V. Estabillo)
