Saint Michael College, Cantilan, Incorporated

Cantilan, Surigao del Sur

College Department

LEARNING MODULE Prepared by: Lowella E. Lao-ay

in GE Elec 3 – Living in the IT Era Course/Year: BEED/BSED/AB/BSBA/BSTM

I. MODULE 6 : IT Trends, Issues and Challenges

II. INTRODUCTION
This module will discuss the IT trends which affect the Filipino’s way of living and the issues and
challenges that every sector has faced.

III. TOPICS
1. Trends
2. Issues and Challenges

IV. TIME FRAME : 5 hrs.

V. OBJECTIVES
1. Describe how the given IT trends affect the Filipino’s way of living;
2. Discuss the issues and challenges in IT that the different sectors face; and
3. Research further on the influence of IT on a specific sector.

VI. SUMMARY OF TOPICS

TRENDS

This chapter features articles and studies showing trends in IT from recent years. The topics include
the industry sector's use of technology specifically IoT and automation. Articles regarding online banking as
well as the business sector's online presence through e-commerce are likewise included. IT trends on
education and case studies on the use of technology in health are also presented. Lastly, this chapter covers
several issues in IT that the different sectors face

Industry

The industry sector in the Philippines is made up of local and foreign companies that provide different
products and services to Filipinos. Some companies in the food industry include Universal Robina and Monde
Nissin while those in the beverage industry include San Miguel Brewery and Pepsi Philippines.

Two major trends are seen in this sector automation and the application of Internet of Things (IoT),
hence the introduction of smart industries.

→ Internet of Things (IoT)

The IoT is becoming an increasingly growing topic of conversation both in the workplace and in the
society at large. It has the potential to impact how we live and how we work. For instance, through the use of
sensors, electronics, and robotics, major companies have reported increase in productivity as well as accuracy
of results in their production lines. The following articles present the positive effects of IoT and the role of the
internet and network connectivity in business.

Groups to mull over loT development in Philippines

by Rizal Raoul Reyes and Dennis Estopace
March 14, 2016
With spending on the Internet of Things (IoT) in the Philippines expected to grow 13 times from its
2014 market value, several groups are focusing on the potential of the new technology in local business
development.

One group is Industry Platform Pte. Ltd. (PPL), a Singapore incorporated firm focused on the global
telecommunications sector.
 In a statement, Ippl said it forecast IoT in the Philippines to grow from $55.1 million in 2014 to $766.8
million in 2020. The firm is organizing a second conference in May, wherein an expected 300 representatives
of local end users across major verticals will be attending the conference and exhibitions. Dubbed as "Asia
loT Business Platform." IPPL said its 2015 conference was participated by 89 percent of local companies
with attendees made up of key executives from the information technology and operational divisions, who
are actively exploring technology solutions, to drive business efficiencies, improve services and ensure
security. The conference follows the loT Summit Philippines held early this month.

Its head organizer, Elaine Cedillo, said there is a need to organize more activities to inform Filipino
consumers of the benefits of loT.

"We want to push further to continue to educate the different business and industrial sectors and
prepare the start-up community for 2020, where everything is expected to be connected to the internet."
Cedillo was quoted in a statement as saying, "Plus we want to build awareness about the convenience
brought by this technology.”

The first loT Summit Philippines showcased different innovative solutions in the areas of "connected
living," health care and "wearables."

On the other hand, the IPPL said the seventh edition of Asia loT Business Platform will feature
sessions on market trends and outlook industrial loT, transport and logistics, smart city, big data, cloud,
security, health care, banking and finance.

lonics, IBM team up on high-tech products

by Doris Dumlao-Abadilla
December 18, 2015

A unit of electronics manufacturer lonics Inc. has teamed up with global technology giant IBM to
develop high-tech products that ride on the Internet of Things (IoT) using cloud, mobile and big data
analytics.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday, lonics subsidiary lonics-EMS announced
its partnership with IBM to develop loT-based "smart factory" capability.

loT refers to a network of physical objects like gadgets, consumer appliances or industrial equipment
with embedded technology that allows communication and interaction with each other.

"The technology keys on the strengths of IBM's cloud solutions paired with lonics-EMS's 42 years of
manufacturing excellence and loT product development expertise," the disclosure said.

Based on the disclosure, lonics-EMS will work with IBM to build a platform for the development of
cloud-based apps for clients on Bluemix via the IBM Internet of Things Foundation.

Bluemix – an implementation of IBM's open cloud architecture based on open source platform Cloud
Foundry – delivers enterprise-level services that can easily integrate with cloud applications.

"The renewed collaboration between lonics-EMS and IBM on cloud, mobile, and big data analytics
marks the next generation of long-standing relationship between the two companies. Together, we will bring
loT solutions to mutual customers. The smart factory would be a game-changer," said Lawrence Qua, chair
and chief executive officer of lonics-EMS.

Cloud computing lets users access big volumes of files and applications over the Internet using
multiple devices.

Big data refers to voluminous amount of data from traditional and digital sources that could be mined
for valuable insights on human behavior such as trends, patterns, and associations, in turn boosting
business intelligence.

"The dramatic increase of connected devices provides organizations the ability to gather near real-
time data and extract new insights that weren't possible until now." said Luis Pineda, president and country
general manager at IBM Philippines. "This is driving a major shift in the electronics industry allowing
 manufacturers to focus on delivering a more compelling experience to the consumer. Our relationship with
lonics-EMS is a significant step in this direction as we help bring innovation to the manufacturing industry."

With access to services and APIs-short for "application program interface" or a set of routines,
protocols, and tools for building software applications – the disclosure said Bluemix could easily extend an
Internet-connected device such as a sensor or controller into the cloud, build an application alongside the
device to collect the data and send real-time insights. This is in turn seen creating more solutions for medical,
social, mobile, security, and IoT.

Using lonics-EMS' strong expertise in hardware design and four-decade experience in

manufacturing, the collaboration is seen to enable manufacturing clients to develop applications for
predictive analytics and draw on data from the lot to enhance various areas such as asset performance
management, operational risk management, and predictive maintenance. This will significantly improve
manufacturing efficiencies and capabilities that are essential for the development of advanced devices in
several lof verticals particularly for e-Health (medical) and automotive customers, the disclosure said.

"The synergy of ionics-EMS and IBM stems from their respective positions of strength to enable the
manufacturing Industry capture opportunities in the era of big data analytics, IoT, cloud, and mobile, setting
a higher bar for global manufacturing services." the disclosure said.

Ionics-EMS and IBM have had a long partnership that began in 1990 and continued over the decades
with evolving programs and technologies. Their lot-based products will be demonstrated at the global
consumer electronics and consumer technology trade show CES 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada this January
6-9, the disclosure said.

→ IT Automation

Automating what used to be manual procedures is the trend in organizations and industries. As with
IoT, automation helps many companies achieve greater productivity among its employees by using computers
and software programs to do the tasks. Such automation includes accounting systems, production systems,
and even security systems. The news articles below mention how a simple attendance monitoring system has
become much easier as well as how companies and employees can benefit from using technology in their
daily work.

Makati fully implements biometric timekeeping system

by Mike Frialde
July 29, 2014

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government has fully implemented the use of the Automated
Biometrics Timekeeping System in monitoring the daily attendance of employees working in its offices at
the City Hall complex in Barangay Poblacion.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the move was in keeping with the commitment of the city
government to harnessing technology to promote transparency and efficiency in its operations and services.

"Aside from ensuring the accuracy of daily time records and thwarting attempts of time theft, the new
timekeeping system also promotes fast and efficient payroll calculations." Binay said.

Vissia Marie Aldon, city personnel officer, said using the system eliminated the possibility of
employees making proxy' time-in or time-out for other employees.

The head of the Human Resources Development Office (HRDOI also said 10 stand-alone fingerprint
time recorders initially procured were used for over 3.000 city personnel working in offices within the City
Hall complex during the dry run. Employees were required to sign in and out on a timesheet to serve as
back-up in case the system malfunctioned.

Aldon said since the test run went without a hitch, the HRDO has now fully implemented the
biometrics attendance system. She said the city government will be purchasing additional fingerprint time
recorders so that all 34 offices and departments of the city government, including the University of Makati,
Ospital ng Makati, and other agencies outside City Hall, would be served.
 Prior to the system's test run, all employees at the City Hall complex underwent fingerprint capturing
procedure conducted by HRDO personnel in their respective offices.

Property consultant bares future of work

by Rizal Raoul Reyes
June 10, 2017

Telecommunication companies and property developers will be having closer collaboration in

developing the future workplace, according to a document.

In a research paper titled "The Future of Work." Jones lang LaSalle Inc. head of corporate solutions
research in Asia Pacific Susan Sutherland said the traditional office workplace is gradually going to be
replaced by a new concept anchored on technology developments. Sutherland cited the Internet of Things,
artificial intelligence, and robotics as examples of the latter.

"We will see greater working relations between the developers and the telecom companies as clients
will demand buildings that can be technology-ready for their operations." Sutherland told the BusinessMirror.
"Smart buildings are also way of the future. They also want to optimize cost."

She believes in the future, there will be closer ties between developers and telcos to put up smart
buildings."

Sutherland said Philippine business leaders must embrace the changes in the workplace such as
the use of technology in their processes and operations to become more relevant to new environment and
next generation of workforce.

For instance, Sutherland said a client in the business process outsourcing industry may need a facility
for its automation process or robotics-driven operations.

Automation is rapidly taking place into more service jobs."

Although the Philippines is still considered an emerging market, Sutherland said the Philippines can
still keep pace with the rapid changes in the workplace. As long as organizations are receptive and have an
open mind, they can join the march towards that change, according to Sutherland. She said these views
were based on discussion with JLL's clients about the role of technology in their operations

Future of work is really about how our clients can think of the future of the workplace and the impact
of the corporate real estate." Sutherland said, "Technology is a big factor in the discussion

She added the "work-from-home" concept is one that can be adopted as one of the changes in the
workplace, especially for a place like Metro Manila where daily monstrous traffic jams is the new normal

"We certainly see that it can be beneficial but it is really up to the company to determine what their
needs are."

Sutherland also pointed out that organizations can pursue future-proofing programs on its employees
to ensure they are equipped to handle disruptions. One future-proofing program is to provide them the skills
and the knowledge such as data analytics to handle new trends in the business environment, she explained.

Furthermore, it would be quite useful for an organization to also focus on the Internet of Things,
artificial intelligence, robotics and automation and predictive capability, according to Sutherland.

Banking

Online banking also known as "internet banking" or "web banking" allows a user to execute financial
transactions via the internet. An online bank offers customers just about every service traditionally available
through a local branch, including deposits, money transfers, and bill payments. The news articles that follow
explore the rise of digital banking customers as more and more Filipinos rely on their internet connection to
avail of different bank services.
More Filipinos warming up to online banking
by Doris Dumlao
April 3, 2013
Three out of four Filipinos are now comfortable conducting online banking transactions, based on a
Citigroup online poll.
"We are seeing a marked shift to online and mobile banking and in Asia, we already see 98 percent
of all transactions taking place outside a branch," Citi Philippines consumer business manager Bea Tan
said in a statement on Wednesday.
This conclusion was derived from an annual online poll that measures the Fin-Q or financial quotient
of Filipino consumers. The survey covered 3.500 online respondents across seven countries including the
Philippines. Five hundred interviews were held in each of the participating countries that include Australia,
India, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.
The survey showed that 75 percent of the people covered, those who have either a bank deposit or
credit card account were now doing almost all their banking transactions through their computer, tablet, or
mobile phone. Only one of every four respondents continue to visit the branch, and mostly for face-to-face
meetings with the bank managers or account officers. Only 9 percent of respondents said they had yet to
try online banking.
The same survey showed that popular transactions online included account inquiries, bills payment,
and funds transfers between accounts. This trend was attributed by Citi to new technologies that offered
customers user-friendly solutions and enhanced security. The Citi Fin-Q Survey also showed that Filipinos
were showing growing interest in using online banking beyond the usual transactions. About 92 percent of
respondents wanted to take their banking with them and be able to access all of their finances while
traveling, and 78 percent expressed interest in global investment opportunities.
In line with this, Ton said Citi was committed to remain a step ahead of its clients' needs especially
in the online banking space where Citi had gained considerable ground.
As of September 2012, we have already registered more than 1,000,000 mobile banking users for
Citi in Asia, and we are confident that the number has grown since," she said.
One online banking innovation cited by Citi is the newly launched One-Time Personal Identification
Number (PIN) which Citibank Online, the bank's multi-awarded Internet banking platform. The One-Time
PIN is a unique six-digit PIN, sent via SMS, which allows users to access their account details and complete
online transactions via Citibank Online. Users of Citibank Online need to key in their username and
password first before they will be prompted for a One-Time PIN. The One-Time PIN acts as a second-level
authentication method to ensure that online transactions are secure.
The One-Time PIN may also be generated via the Citi Mobile Banking App. an application available
to Apple and Android device users. Also available for a minimal fee is Citi's Online Security Device, which
generates One-Time PINs in one click.
Another recent addition to Citi’s roster of online banking services is the "Call Me" service for clients
who wish to apply for another credit card, or those who have yet to own a Citibank credit card. Consumers
can click on the "Call Me" button at the upper right section of Citibank Online's homepage to request Citi to
call.
As the number of online banking users rises, Citi said its mobile application had also gained foothold
in the mobile banking space. This app represents a suite of mobile banking applications for Android,
BlackBerry, and iPhone. It enables credit card and bank clients to access their accounts and complete a
range of banking transactions using their preferred smartphones.

Security Bank's government payment service cited at HK's The Asset Triple-A awards
by InterAksyon
June 12, 2017

MANILA - Security Bank Corporation emerged as winner in two public sector categories at the
recently concluded The Asset Triple A Awards 2016 held in Hong Kong.
The Bank was named 'Best Regional Specialist Award' and 'Best in Treasury and Working Capital
for the Philippines' under the public sector category in recognition of its efficient government payment
services and performance in corporate treasury management, trade finance, supply chain, and risk
management.
"Our electronic government payments system e-Gov payments) was introduced nine years ago
through DigiBanker to aid the government agencies in serving the public. It utilizes top-security internet
operations and streamlines processes for an efficient delivery of quality services," said president and CEO
Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr.
The Bank, through its electronic platform for cash management solutions DigiBanker, gained the trust
of government agencies. The Bank's government payment facility covers financial transactions for Home
 Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG). Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation PhilHealth Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
DigiBanker deploys strict security measures through online facility utilizing SSL with 256-bit
encryption, which is the highest and first in local banks along with Verisign EV SGC certification, said the
bank in a press release. It is fully equipped with technologies that enable ease of large file transfers and
provide a more secure platform and firewall
Through the years. Security Bank said it has maintained its reputation as the only bank that has a
fully integrated system with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). a server-to-server
connectivity for streamlined processing of premium contribution settlement and posting.
Security Bank cited its distinction as the first bank that launched the process of host-to-host
connectivity with the Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), as
well as the first bank to offer 24/7 payments capability.
This automation was also cited by the Philippine government as the first to have adopted an online
facility for payments of custom duties and taxes enabling shortened turnaround time of the release of goods
and helping port decongestion. It also helps the government in preventing issues which may hamper manual
payment process.
The Bank said it also works together with state shelter agency Pag-IBIG to encourage customers on
the benefits of automation. The host-to-host system through the Pag-IBIG Realtime module ensures timely
and accurate posting of payments.
“Our Bank's continued proactive approach and risk management framework is part of our
commitment to deliver the promise of BetterBanking." Salcedo said.
In the past four years. The Asset has cited Security Bank's electronic cash management system as
the 'Best e-Solutions Partner Bank in the Philippines' from 2013-2016. The Asset Triple A Digital Enterprise
Awards also recognized Security Bank as the Best Electronic Bank' in 2015 and 2016.

Education
Most colleges and universities in the Philippines use a learning management system (LMS) to
deliver, manage, and keep track of students' progress. This LMS, which is delivered online, relates to the e-
learning system. E-learning is learning that utilizes electronic technologies to access educational curriculum
outside of a traditional classroom. In most cases, it refers to a course, program, or degree delivered completely
online. Some call this as distance learning. The news articles that follow discuss how telecom companies
such as Globe and PLDT are giving back to the society by introducing technology to public schools and making
sure students, as well as teachers, become global learners.

Global Filipino Schools enhance e-Learning with Cloudfone tablets

by Manila Bulletin
February 13, 2017
Select public schools under the Global Filipino School (GFS) program of Globe Telecom can now
further enhance digital learning and promote love of reading among K-12 students through the help of 220
tablets donated by Cloudfone, one of the leading providers of smartphones and tablets in the country.
Globe and Cloudfone launched the partnership by holding a different kind of reading session at the
Andres Bonifacio Integrated School in Mandaluyong City where 40 grades 5 and 6 students enjoyed stories
told by Globe employee volunteers using the tablets.
The first 11 schools which implemented the GFS program received Cloudpad 900TV tablets pre-
loaded with an ebookreader app. The tablets are on top of the regular Globe Digital Laboratory package
that are provided to all GFS containing netbooks/tablets, WiFi devices, and a mobile cart with a built-in
projector screen.
With the help of the tablets, students and teachers can fully explore the GFS Library
(http://www.gfslibrary.com), a free, web-based platform that provides free and quick access to digital story
books for children and young adults as well as textbooks on core subjects such as math, science, English,
Filipino, music, and arts. among others.
They may also use the Globe-provided internet service to connect to the GFS Library and to
download as many titles as needed for their learning needs.
Under GFS, schools are provided with unparalleled online connectivity to give homeroom teachers
access to limitless teaching and learning engagements available on the internet.

PLDT Enterprise rolls out e-learning program to aid millennials' studies

by Sunstar Philippines
 September 26, 2016
PLDT Enterprise, via its Digital Mobility team leads Innovation in e-Leaming or digital technology-
backed education, as it recently launched Smart's new e-Learning Program for the academe and training
institutions.
The program consists of a suite of products that leverage the benefits of internet-based technologies
in schools. This erases the perception that many people have of technology such as gadgets as mere
distractions to students' studies.
The products in the suite are specifically developed to benefit not only students and teachers, but
also administrators and parents, among others.
"Our view is that the devices will serve more as effective study aids, and act less as distractions."
said GioAbaquin, head of Digital Mobility, Disruptive Business Group (DBG), the emerging technologies
business unit of PLDT Enterprise.
"Today's millennials have learned to accept the role that devices play in their daily lives. It is important
to bring in this new technology into the classroom, for both the obvious, physical reasons, such as lighter
physical loads versus heavy books and notebooks, as well as for technological benefits." Abaquin said.
"Mobile learning supports the learning process rather than being integral to it. Mobile learning can
also be a useful add-on tool for students with special needs. It can be used as a 'hook' to re-engage
disaffected youth," added Chet Alviz, head of SMACS Social, Mobile, Analytics, Cloud and Security).
For the e-Learning App, there will be package options such as app-only, app with SIM, as well as
tablet bundles.
More than a Learning Management System (LMS), the Smart e-Learning program creates an end-
to-end Digital Campus Experience. Smart is set to roll out the e-Learning program with select schools.
The whole suite offers PLDT iGate, Smart WiFi, Smart M2M SIMS, Smart Prepaid SIMs, customized
website with e-Commerce capability to help establish online presence. Vehicle and Personnel trackers for
the school transport, as well as for student use, customized App, including evolved learning solutions such
as Smart's e-Learning LMS and Microsoft Office 365. All these can be accessed by authorized teachers,
administrators, and students in and out of the campus.
"We are very pleased to have included in our service portfolio an educational digital tool that benefits
not only students, but also the entire school ecosystem. Parents, for example, will be able to gain access to
their child's developmental progress. Educators, on the other hand, will be able to freely interact with both
students and parents on the more important aspects of today's learning experience," added Nico Alcoseba,
head of PLDT's Disruptive Business Group
PLDT Enterprise stressed digital technology-backed education is ever more rising and it believes the
Philippines has a high potential for growth in e-Learning adoption. Ambient Insight, an international market
research firm that specializes in e-Leaming and Mobile Learning, said in a statement that in Asia alone, the
market for learning and training programs supported by electronic technology is expected to reach $11.5
billion by 2016. or more than twice the $5.2 billion in 2011.
The two countries with the highest growth rates in the world are Vietnam and Malaysia, respectively,
at 44.3 percent and 39.4 percent. Also in the top 10 are Romania and China. The Asian region is also known
for a high adoption in mobile technology, due to the proliferation of low-priced mobile devices.
At present, the Philippines ranks at seventh place in terms of growth rate in e-Learning. The country
joins Thailand, India, Kenya, Slovakia, and Azerbaijan with growth rates of between 30 percent and 35
percent.
This shows that the Philippines is well on the way towards adapting eLearning for educational
institutions-and even in businesses. Smart's goal is to be at the forefront of that digital change, at home, at
work, and even in school.

Business
Electronic commerce or e-commerce is a term for any type of business, or commercial transaction that
involves the transfer of information across the internet. It covers a range of different types of businesses, from
consumer-based retail sites and auction or music sites, to business exchanges trading goods and services
between corporations. It is currently one of the most important aspects of the internet to emerge.

E-commerce growth to drive logistics business In PH

by Bernie Cahles-Magkilat
May 22, 2017
 E-commerce in the Philippines is going to post very high growth that will drive the logistics industry
to improve to cope with demand for a seamless experience operation from manufacturer to retailer to
customer, according to JDA Software Group, Inc., the world's leading digital supply chain solutions provider.
Amit Bagga, JDA regional vice-president for Asia Pacific, told reporters during the company's event
dubbed "The Next Game Changer: Optimizing Supply Chain Planning and Logistics" held Wednesday at
Okada Manila that e-commerce is growing exponentially in the country.
JDA has been focused on providing the retail supply chain solutions in the country in the past 15
years already.
With strong e-commerce, Bagga said the next thing to flourish is the logistics industry. Already, JDA
is expanding its product offering in the country from the local retail supply chain solutions from to the more
challenging local logistics solutions to provide a seamless experience.
Its retail supply chain solutions business in the country accounts for 80 percent of its business while
the logistics business is only 20 percent. But Bagga was confident that with its transportation and
warehousing solutions, JDA will be able to make logistics a very large component of its business.
"am confident we will exit out with logistics becoming a very large component of our business. So,
minimum of 30 percent minimum, aggressively I would say logistics will be 30 to 50 percent of our business
here in the next two years," he said.
So far 8 of top 10 retailers in the country have been using the JDA retail solutions for a total of 15-
16 retailers.
At the event. JDA was offering its Transport Management Solutions (TMS) for local logistics firms
that would like to provide seamless experience and cost-efficient operation.
"Logistics companies should stop thinking of themselves as moving a box from one point to another,"
he said.
Logistics firms need data to make informed decisions. Iaistics solution is also more important
because of the country's archipelagic situation and the cost of inventory. To further save on cost, logistics
should be tied with the cost of inventory, he explained.
"Look at how you can customize your transportation to lower cost of inventory: that is the real
strategy," he said.
According to Bagga, JDA TMS is unique on two things because it does not only talk about planning,
movement of goods, but optimizing the routes, network, optimizing inventory movements to give the logistics
company the entire scenario that it can play to optimize and minimize cost of inventory.
The other unique feature is it can point which warehouse to use and how much time will it take to
move that, how to connect with labor, and optimize labor.
Coming from the discussion with top CEOs and top logistics heads at their event, Bagga was
optimistic in being able to close deals with 2-3 logistics companies this year.

Philippine e-commerce to reach 200bn by 2020

by First Circle

Recent statistics have estimated the internet population in the Philippines to be the fastest growing
in the world. It is determined to have enjoyed a growth rate of 530% over the last 5 years. The e-commerce
industry is also set to grow at an annual growth rate of 101.4% between 2016 and 2020. The Philippines is
home to a sizeable youth population and is well placed to see continued online retail activity in the coming
years.
This is not only a local trend: the Asia-Pacific region has been booming in e-commerce sales over
the last number of years and has surpassed North America and Western Europe in terms of Business to
Consumer (B2C) sales. The graph below displays the exponential growth that the Asia-Pacific region has
been enjoying versus the corresponding growth figures for other parts of the world.

Figure 1. B2B E-commerce Sales Worldwide by Region. (values in billion US$)

 E-Commerce activity is dependent on access to the internet and as the world's online footprint
increases, consumers will inevitably increase the amount of products they buy online. Statistica.com has
forecasted that the total number of smartphone users in the Philippines will reach 38.4 million by 2020.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines has reaffirmed its commitment to
facilitate this growth in the e-commerce market. "The coming years will be bullish for Philippine E-Commerce
and come 2020, our strategies and plans for the industry will exhibit a 20/20 vision- utterly perfect and
accurate." Undersecretary Prudencio Reyes Jr. declared in the recently concluded E-Commerce Forum.

Health
E-health (or eHealth) refers to the use of information and communications technology in health care. It
covers a lot of territory, which is why digital health industry experts often contest exactly what the term means,
and to add to the confusion, it is also frequently used as a synonym for Health IT.
Eysenbach (2001) in an editorial published by the Journal of Medical Internet Research (2001) defines
eHealth as:
"art emerging field in the intersection of medical informatics, public health and business, referring to health
services and information delivered or enhanced through the Internet and related technologies... In a
broader sense, the term characterizes not only a technical development, but also a state of mind, way of
thinking, an attitude, and a commitment for networked, global thinking to improve health
care locally, regionally, and worldwide by using information and communication technology" (para. 3).

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines eHealth as:

"the cost-effective and secure use of information and communications technologies in support of health
and health-related fields, including healthcare services, health surveillance, health Literature, and health
education, knowledge and research" (para. 1).

How digital health is bridging the healthcare gap in the Philippines

by Jof Enriquez
October 28, 2014

Digital health in the Philippines traces its roots to the University of the Philippines Manila) National
Telehealth Center (UPM-NTHC). which pioneered open-source telemedicine and mHealth projects that
connected remote patients with specialists in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). This community-based
approach in delivering eHealth solutions has gathered momentum in recent years, as the lack of doctors,
nurses, and other allied health workers in underserved areas become more severe.

mHealth
The Philippine government has tapped the private sector in further developing its eHealth projects.
Backed by Qualcomm Wireless Reach, Wireless Access for Health WAH) leverages the high penetration of
mobile devices in the Philippines, low-cost tablets and smartphones, and open-source software. Erin Gavin
project manager, described it as using "3G technology to improve health care by reducing the time required
for reporting and Improving access to accurate and relevant patient information for clinicians and
government decision-makers."
The project has "expanded the CHITS EMR platform that supports data collection and reporting from
the barangays [local government unit through the mobile midwife platform and sends patient alerts through
the Synchronized Patient Alert Via SMS feature." WAH enhanced CHITS to be compatible with the
Philippine Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS).
WAH allows health workers to track patient data, generate reports, and record outbreaks. Accessing
patient records now takes seconds instead of minutes, and health reports-previously Taking days via courier
to arrive-now takes only minutes to transmit.
As of March 2014, the platform has achieved the following: • Adopted in 68 clinics in 14 provinces •
Served > 2.500 patients a day • 950 clinicians trained • 1 million patient consultations • 500,000 patient
records recorded
Recent mHealth programs include the SMS TeleReferrals used by the DOH in its "Doctor-to-the-
Barrio" (DTTB) program, and health education programs giving mobile phone users reminders on
vaccination, dengue prevention, tuberculosis, and health seminars. The rCHITS (Real time Monitoring of
Vital Maternal and Child Health Indicators through the Community Health Information Tracking System)
project uses SMS for field workers to report maternal and child health services rendered, create
appointments, and remind patients.
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Industry
With the introduction of computer systems at work, one main issue raised is maintaining the computer
system's security and integrity. Modes of communication within an office environment normally entail
exchanging of emails or discussions in local chat rooms. This scenario opens the doors for malicious software
that can be shared, whether intentionally or not, to the entire organization. Malicious software, or malware, is
a general term used to describe any type of software that can cause harm to a computer system. Examples
of malware include the following:

1. Virus
It is a computer program usually hidden within another program that inserts itself into other
programs or files. Once inside the computer system, it usually performs malicious actions, such as
destroying data or deleting processing files in the computer causing it to crash.
2. Worm
A worm is a stand-alone malware that replicates itself in order to spread to other computers. It
almost always causes at least some harm to a computer system, such as slowing down the network
connection Compared to a virus, a worm causes less damage; however, a worm can also act as a virus
by replicating itself, causing damage to multiple parts in the system.
3. Trojan
It refers to a malicious program which initially appears to be useful, routine, or interesting in order
to persuade a victim to install it. Unlike computer viruses and worms, Trojans generally do not attempt
to inject themselves into other files or otherwise propagate themselves. However, a Trojan may contain
a virus or a worm, which, once opened, can cause damage to the computer.
4. Spyware
A spyware is software that aims to gather information about an organization or a person without
his or her knowledge. It may send particular information to another entity without the consumer's consent.
Most advertising companies use this for marketing purposes. An extension of this is another malware
called adware. A more dangerous type of spyware is one that asserts control over a device without the
user's knowledge, such as a keystroke logging or spy cams.
5. Ransomware
It is type of malware that can block access to a victim's data. The hacker uses his or her technical
knowledge or skills to gain unauthorized access to data or systems. The hacker also threatens the victim
that specific data will be deleted, for example, until a ransom is paid. Some simple ransomware is not
that difficult to reverse, especially for someone who has knowledge in IT; however, more advanced
malware uses a technique called cryptoviral extortion, in which the victim's files are encrypted, and
the hacker would demand a ransom for the file to be decrypted.

One of the most recent malware attack which has hit almost 74 countries, affecting several industries
worldwide was the ransomware "WannaCry." The article below discusses how the ransomware attack
happened.

Alarm grows over global ransomware attacks

by Agence France-Presse
May 13, 2017

Security experts expressed alarm Friday over a fast-moving wave of cyberattacks around the world
that appeared to exploit a flow exposed in documents leaked from the U.S. National Security Agency.
The attacks came in the form of ransomware, a technique used by hackers that locks a user's files
unless they pay the attackers in bitcoin.
The scope of the attacks was not immediately clear, amid varying estimates from security
researchers. But the malware was linked to attacks on hospitals in Britain as well as the Spanish Telecom
giant Telefonica and was also spreading in other countries.
The malware's name is WCry, but analysts were also using variants such as WannaCry,
WanaCrypt0r, WannaCrypt, or Wana Decryptor.
 Microsoft released a security patch earlier this year for the flaw, but many systems have yet to be
updated, researchers said.
Researcher CostinRalu of the Russian-based security firm Kaspersky said in a tweet, "So far, we
have recorded more than 45,000 attacks of the #WannaCry ransomware in 74 countries around the world.
Number still growing fast."
Jakub Kroustek of Avast said on Twitter the security firm had detected "36,000 detections of
#WannaCry (aka #WanaCypt0r aka #WCry) #ransomware so far. Russia, Ukraine, and Taiwan leading.
This is huge."
Kaspersky said the malware was released in April by a hacking group called Shadow Brokers which
claimed to have discovered the flaw from the NSA.
In the United States, the package delivery giant FedEx acknowledged it was hit by malware after
one researcher cited the company as a target.
"Like many other companies, FedEx is experiencing interference with some of our Windows-based
systems caused by malware." the company said in a statement.
"We are implementing remediation steps as quickly as possible."

Banking
While online banking may be convenient, there are still skepties to this given the sensitive data being
transacted online money. Recently, a supposed faulty system upgrade caused customers of Bank of the
Philippine Islands (BPI) to either lose money from their accounts or receive huge amounts of money that were
not theirs. The article below described the situation which occurred for 48 hours, leaving their customers irate
and panicked.

BPI: Problems with accounts will be resolved 'within the day'

by V. Bacungan, CNN Philippines
June 8, 2017

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines. June 7) - All errors that appeared as unauthorized transactions in
the accounts of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) clients will be resolved today and no one will lose any
money, the bank said.
Clients of the bank were alarmed Wednesday when they discovered strange withdrawals and
deposits in their accounts.
As long lines of bewildered account holders were starting to form in some branches, BPI issued a
statement saying that an "internal data processing error" had caused some accounts debited or credited
twice for a past transaction.
The bank said the error caused some transactions at BPI and BP1 Family Savings, between April
27 and May 2, to be double-posted on June 6.
It assured the public that the bank had identified the cause of the error and would temporarily
suspend online and mobile banking channels to help address the issue faster.
"We are currently correcting the mispostings. We apologize for the inconvenience that this may have
caused," it said.
BPI Senior Vice President Katherine Sta. Maria told CNN Philippines the bank was fixing the
problem.
She denied that the bank's system was hacked, advising clients to go to the nearest branch for their
transactions.
"We will make sure that all our clients who were affected by this, their accounts will be corrected
within the day," she said, "It is not a hack or scam... Internally po, may nagkamali (something went wrong)."
BPI assured that none of its clients would lose money as a result of the technical glitch and that the
bank would continue to service them.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) also dismissed rumors about any hacking.
"Not true, but there was system error that resulted in double debits and credits," incoming BSP
Governor Nestor Espenilla said in a message to the Finance Department.

Education
With online learning being accepted into schools as part of the teaching and learning methodology,
one of the things that schools need to consider is monitoring and management. Having a learning management
system does not necessarily mean students are constrained into using it to learn. There are more websites
that offer learning opportunities for students such as TIME for kids, National Geographic, and NASA, among
others. However, the use of LMS still poses issues and challenges to both students and teachers.

5 common problems faced by students in e-Learning and how to overcome them

 by Sunil Kumar
July 10, 2015
1. Adaptability Struggle
Switching from traditional classroom and face-to-face instructor training to computer-based training
in a virtual classroom makes the learning experience entirely different for students. Their resistance to
change doesn't allow them to adapt to the online learning environment, whereas it takes time for them to
get accustomed to Course Management Systems (CMS) and the methods of computer-based education.
While passive listening and note-taking are expected in a traditional classroom, online discussions or
creating a web page demand springing into action Students with a "traditional” mindset find it difficult to
adapt: however, they need to accept the new learning circumstances with an open mind and heart.
Understanding the benefits of e-Learning and even discussing them with their peers may change this
mindset and better prepare students for online classes.

2. Technical Issues
Many students are not provided with the high bandwidth or the strong internet connection that online
courses require, and thus fail to catch up with their virtual classmates: Their weak monitors make it hard
to follow the Course Management System and their learning experience becomes problematic. Moreover,
most of them live off campus and find it difficult to keep in tune with the technical requirements of the
chosen course. Some of them don't even own computers and seek help in Leaming Resource Centers
for technical assistance. The only solution to this problem is knowing exactly what kind of technological
support they will need for a certain course before enrolling in it, as well as properly equipping themselves
for the course's successful completion.

3. Computer Literacy
Although students are generally tech savvy, and thus able to manage computers well lack of
computer literacy is a major issue among students today. Many of them cannot operate basic programs
such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and therefore, are not able to handle their files. Furthermore,
many students find fixing basic computer problems troublesome, as they have no knowledge in this area.
However, technological proficiency is a must for following online courses, as it enables students to
manage their assignments and courseware in an organized manner without struggling. Basic courses in
computer literacy enhance students' knowledge in the field: having a fundamental knowledge of computer
hardware would help them participate in online classes without interruptions and hindrances.

4. Time Management
Time management is a difficult task for e-Learners, as online courses require a lot of time and
intensive work. Furthermore, whereas it is mostly adults who prefer web-based learning programs for
their place and time flexibility, they rarely have the time to take the courses due to their various everyday
commitments. A regular schedule planner would be a significant help to these learners, as they could
even set reminders for their courses and assignments.

5. Self-Motivation
Self-motivation is an e-Learning essential requirement: however, many online learners lack it, much
to their surprise. After enrolling in distance learning courses, many learners fall behind and nurture the
idea of giving up, as difficulties in handling a technological medium also seem insurmountable, Students
need to find the motivation to follow the new educational trends and also properly equip themselves for
future challenges in their education and careers. Only a positive attitude will help them overcome the
challenges in eLearning: though this is hard to practice, students need to understand that it is necessary
in order to reap the e-Learning's benefits in the future.

Business
As previously discussed, some companies use adware to track information about their customers for
marketing purposes. You might ask, how is that possible?
Whenever you buy items online in sites like Lazada, Amazon, or Zalora, your personal details, such as
your name name, gender, items purchased, etc. are saved by these retailers. Later on, while browsing other
websites such as Facebook, you notice advertisements streaming at the bottom of the page. The
advertisements include items from Lazada or Amazon which you were browsing earlier. How did Facebook
know what you were looking at in those sites?
An adware is a program designed to display advertisements on your computer, redirect your search
requests to advertising websites, and collect marketing-type data about yourself for example, the types of
websites that you visit so that customized advertisements can be displayed.
Is it a bad thing? It depends. An adware can be considered a legitimate alternative offered to
consumers who do not wish to legitimate alternative offered for software. There are many ad-supported
programs, games, utilities that are distributed as adware, which is often called as freeware, Some applications
have pop-up advertisements that if a user wishes to remove them, a certain fee should be paid to make the
apps ad-free.
Health
Patient records are always kept confidential. However, with the introduction of technology, and with
hospitals and clinics leaning towards automation, patient records have shifted from paper to digital. With this,
concerns regarding data security and data confidentiality of patients have increased. But why is there such
an interest in patient records?
According to the International Association of Privacy Professionals, "a medical record is more valuable
than a credit card on the black market. According to the World Privacy Forum, a medical record, including a
name, address, Social Security number and health ID number, typically goes for $50 on the online black
market whereas an active credit card sells for just $3." This makes it more lucrative for cyber criminals as
patient data becomes digital.
In the Philippines, hospitals are required to comply with the Data Privacy Act (DPA) of 2012 and
implement data protection measures in their data processing systems to protect the confidentiality of their
patients' personal information and medical records.
Violations of data privacy involve penalties. Under the DPA, the penalty for unauthorized disclosure of
personal information is P1 million. The penalty extends to 12 million if the act involves sensitive personal
information.
In the United States, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 1996 was
designed to promote the confidentiality and portability of patient records, as well as to develop data security
standards for consistency in the healthcare industry. Under this act, organizations adhere to HIPAA
compliance standards related to protecting their systems, and patients can feel confident that their personal
medical information will remain private. With technological advancements, however, the rules seemed
inadequate. Thus, the HIPAA Security Final Rule, the last of the three HIPAA rules, was published in the
February 20, 2003 issue of Federal Register with an effective date of April 21, 2003.
The HIPAA Security Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals' electronic personal
health information that is created, received, used, or maintained by a covered entity. The Security Rule
requires appropriate administrative, physical and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity,
and security of electronic protected health information.

REFERENCES:
Living in the Information Technology Era by Ronina R. Caoili-Tayuan & Mia V. Eleazar

Checked by: Approved by:

CARMEN SHIELA C. RAGURO, MIT PROSERPINA O. YUHICO, DM

BSCS Program Head College Dean

VII. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

1. Create a concept map on how the IT trends affect our way of living.
2. Go online and open your web browser.
On the address bar, type in ph.news.yahoo.com/tech.
Identify news articles about the top technologies in the Philippines and read them. Take note the
important details.
Discuss about the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies to Filipinos.

VIII. SELF – EVALUATION

Research further on the influence of IT on any of the following sectors:

 Banking
 Education
 Health
 Business
 Others