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2022, Vol. 6, No. 2, 4362–4373
Ravenal A. De Jesus
Abstract
This paper presented the synthesis of various perspectives involving the Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) environment in the Philippines. These perspectives are referenced
from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia – Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) where the Philippines is a Member State and Member Economy respectively. First, various
engineering disciplines were delineated based from its respective statutes in order to determine the
scopes of the same that cover ICT practices. Second, both ICT and allied engineering disciplines
(particularly the Electronics Engineering) were elaborated and compared with international definitions.
Third, the Philippine ICT Roadmaps were compared with the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 and
APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap in order to analyze possible opportunities as well as
areas for improvements. Fourth, various ICT programs and projects in the Philippines as well as selected
ICT Policy Instruments were also presented and compared with its ASEAN/APEC counterparts. Fifth,
the roles of Electronics Engineering (ECE) profession were presented especially its contribution to the
ICT industries in the Philippines. Finally, conclusions and/or recommendations were indicated for
future reference.
Keywords— gender and development (GAD), globalisation, information and communications
technology (ICT), technology management (TM).
in 2016. DICT is the National Government Agency ITU Report [17] International Definition
(NGA) that implements ICT programs, projects and
services; formulate ICT policies; and foster strategic B. The Philippine Technological Council (PTC) and its
collaboration among ICT stakeholders. Table 3 Foreign Counterparts
summarizes references defining ICT. The Philippine Technological Council (PTC) is non-
stock and non-profit corporation incorporated under the
Table 3 References Defining ICT Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that aims
Reference Category / Remarks to foster engineering mobility of Filipino engineering
Philippine Philippine Definition / practitioners around the globe and encompasses thirteen
Republic Act No. Electronics Engineering (13) professional engineering organizations in the
9292 (Electronics (ECE) is a different Philippines each representing specific engineering field
Engineering Law discipline from Electrical of practice [18]. It is emphasized in this paper that the
of 2004) [14] Engineer (EE) Philippine Government regulates engineering practices
Philippine Philippine Definition / The (except for Industrial Engineering) by virtue of
Republic Act No. Department of Information respective statutes but the Accredited Professional
10844 and Communications Organizations (APOs) of respective engineering
(Department of Technology (DICT) was disciplines are actually non-profit corporation
Information And formed when the following incorporated under the Securities and Exchange
Communications agencies were abolished: Commission (SEC).
Technology Act • Information and
[15]
of 2015) Communications Table 4 Accredited Professional Organizations (APOs)
Technology Office of Various Professional Engineering Disciplines in the
(ICTO); Philippines Which Are Members of the Philippine
• National Computer Technological Council (PTC) [19][20]
Center (NCC); Engineering Name of APO
• National Computer Disciplines
Institute (NCI); Electronics Institute of
• Telecommunications Engineering (ECE) Electronics Engineers
Office (TELOF): of the Philippines
• National (IECEP)
Telecommunications Geodetic Geodetic Engineers of
Training Institute Engineering (GE) the Philippines (GEP)
(NTTT) Mechanical Philippine Society of
• All operating units of Engineer (ME) Mechanical
the Department of Engineers (PSME)
Transportation and Metallurgical Society of
Communications Engineer Metallurgical
(DOTC) with Engineers of the
functions and Philippines (SMEP)
responsibilities Mining Engineer Philippine Society of
dealing with Mining Engineers
communications (PSEM)
Abolished agencies have its Naval Architect / Society of Naval
powers and functions, Marine Engineer Architects and Marine
budget, records, properties, (Marine Engineers
and personnel transferred to Engineering is (SONAME)
DICT included in the
UNESCO International Definition Naval Architecture)
Learning Portal
[16]
The law governing the Electronics Engineering (ECE) Prior to the implementation of RA 9292, there was an
Profession in the Philippines is Republic Act No. 9292 old law named Republic Act No. 5734 known as the
and this features information and communications “Electronics and Communications Engineering Law of
technology (ICT) as one of its scope of practice. the Philippines”. While both RA 5734 and RA 9292
uses the initials “ECE”, the former refers to “Electronics
and Communications Engineering” while the former
Table 7 Engineering Disciplines Together With Its refers to “Electronics Engineering”. There are
Respective Statute / Legal Basis misconceptions that truncating the word
Engineering Statute “Communications” from “Electronics and
Disciplines Communications Engineering” that led to “Electronics
Electronics Republic Act No. 9292 Engineering” narrowed down the scope of practice of
Engineering (ECE) ECE. On the contrary, the Electronics Engineering
Geodetic Republic Act No. 8560 (ECE) scope of practice pursuant to RA 9292
Engineering (GE) significantly broadened. As a matter of fact, prior to the
Mechanical Republic Act No. 8495 implementation of RA 9292, the Board Examination
Engineer (ME) subjects were only Mathematics (30%), Electronics
Metallurgical Republic Act No. 10688 Engineering (30%) and Communications Engineering+
Engineer (30%). Moreover, during the implementation of RA
Mining Engineer Republic Act No. 4274 as 9292, there are four subjects namely Mathematics
amended by Republic Act. (20%), General Engineering and Applied Sciences
No. 5677 (20%), Electronics Engineering (30%), and Electronics
Naval Architect / Republic Act No. 4565 Systems Technologies (30%). Furthermore, RA 5734 as
Marine Engineer compared with RA 9292, the latter had already repealed
(Marine the former and RA 9292 actually has three levels of
Engineering is Electronics Practitioners namely: Professional
included in the Electronics Engineer (PECE), Electronics Engineer
Naval Architecture) (ECE), and Electronics Technician (ECT).
Sanitary Engineer Republic Act No. 1364
Industrial Engineer Non – Government Table 8 Comparisons of RA 5734 and RA 9292
(IE) Organisation but recognized RA 5734 RA 9292
by the Philippine Name of Electronics and Electronics
Technological Council Profession Communications Engineering
(PTC) and IEs are accepted Engineering (ECE)
in ASEAN Engineer (ECE)
Register (AER) and Categories of One (Electronics Three
ASEAN Chartered Practice and (Professional
Professional Engineer Communications Electronics
Registry (ACPER) Engineer or Engineer or
Aeronautical Presidential Decree No. ECE) PECE,
Engineer 1570 Electronics
Agricultural Republic Act No. 10915 Engineer or
Engineer ECE, and
Civil Engineer (CE) Republic Act No. 544 as Electronics
amended by Republic Act Technician or
No. 1582 ECT)
Chemical Engineer Republic Act No. 9297 Board Exam Mathematics, Mathematics,
(ChE) Scope (for Electronics General
Electrical Engineer Republic Act No. 7920 ECE) Engineering, and Engineering
(EE) Communications and Applied
Engineering Sciences,
–
–
Fig. 1Venn Diagram Representation of Interrelationships of Philippine Electronics Engineering (ECE) Law,
Philippine DICT Law and International Benchmark (ASEAN/APEC Engineer Registry)
Fig. 2 DICT Hierarchy indicating the level of the Assistant Secretary (in which at least one of position shall be a
Professional Electronics Engineer
)
discussion Referring to previous sections, Electronics Engineering
(ECE) profession has vital roles in the ICT roadmap
before, during and after Covid-19 pandemic as well as Electronics Engineering (ECE). Likewise, government
disaster risk reduction management [3][24][25]. offices in-charge with Computers and Communications
undergone convergence. This clearly indicated that ICT
is neither limited with computer (information)
technology alone nor communications technology
alone. This convergence of government offices
coincides with historical digital convergence as well as
APEC and OECD studies [26].
The 2006-2010 ICT Roadmap of the Philippines
focused on Community e-Centers (CeCs) that aimed to
reach out the marginalized sectors and other
stakeholders down to grassroots levels while
globalization was also pronounced [27]. Reaching out
various sectors fulfills the Gender and Development
(GAD) agenda. Empowering these sectors through
digital literacy and capacity building enables them to be
an economic contributor. This roadmap also aimed to
create laws to strengthen ICT drives as well as updating
Fig. 3 “Digital Convergence” indicating the how old laws (including the abolition of NCC and Telof
information technology and communications when DICT was created in 2016). However, there was
technology converge each other with respect to time. no provision for Electronics Engineering profession
despite of existence of RA 9292 and ASEAN / APEC
Likewise, government offices in-charge with Engineer Register. Moreover, there are many
Computers and Communications undergone experienced Electronics Engineers in the old agency
convergence. This clearly indicated that ICT is neither named Telecommunications Office (Telof) and
limited with computer (information) technology alone considered permanent employees. Furthermore, even
nor communications technology alone. This the National Broadband Plan was pronounced, the
convergence of government offices coincides with provision for backbone infrastructure was not included.
historical digital convergence as well as APEC and In 2011, the Commission on Information and
OECD studies [26]. Communications Technology was renamed
“Information and Communications Technology Office
(ICTO)” Consequently, ICTO became an attached
agency of the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST). With ICTO being attached to DOST, research
and development (R&D) agenda can be in future ICT
roadmaps.
The 2011-2015 ICT Roadmap of the Philippines had
included Institute of Electronics Engineers of the
Philippines (IECEP) as one of its stakeholders [28]. In
addition, the roles of Philippine ICT in ASEAN was
pronounced and elaborated while APEC was also
mentioned. Under this roadmap, CICT is now
transforming into DICT in order to obtain its own
statute/charter. On the other hand, when CICT became
ICTO, another roadmap was created entitled “The
Philippine Roadmap for Digital Startups, 2015 and
Fig. 4 Convergence of Philippine Government Offices
Beyond”. In this 2015 roadmap, engineering disciplines
In-Charge with Computers and Communications
were now emphasized as these are essential in creating
startups.
Upon discussion of both ASEAN and APEC
ICTO, CICT, NCC and Telof were abolished when
perspectives of ICT together with the roles of
DICT was created in 2016. However, the functions and