PROGRAMMS/SEMINARS THAT TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE

THE SPEED OF SLOW INTERNET CONNECTION.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall be the

primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, and administrative entity of the Executive
Branch of the government that will plan, develop, and promote the national ICT development
agenda. (RA 10844)
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
I. Policy and Planning
(a) Formulate, recommend and implement national policies, plans, programs and guidelines that
will promote the development and use of ICT with due consideration to the advantages of
convergence and emerging technologies;
(b) Formulate policies and initiatives, in coordination with the Department of Education
(DepED), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to develop and promote ICT in education consistent
with the national goals and objectives, and responsive to the human resource needs of the ICT
and ICT-enabled services (ICT-ES) sectors;
(c) Provide an integrated framework in order to optimize all government ICT resources and
networks for the identification and prioritization of all E-Government systems and applications
as provided for the E-Government Masterplan and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP);
II. Improved Public Access
(d) Prescribe rules and regulations for the establishment, operation and maintenance of ICT
infrastructures in unserved and underserved areas, in consultation with the local government
units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs), private sector, and the academe;
(e) Establish a free internet service that can be accessed in government offices and public areas
using the most cost-effective telecommunications technology, through partnership with private
service providers as may be necessary;
III. Resource-sharing and Capacity Building
(f) Harmonize and coordinate all national ICT plans and initiatives to ensure knowledge,
information and resource-sharing, database-building and agency networking linkages among
government agencies, consistent with E-Government objectives in particular, and national
objectives in general;
(g) Ensure the development and protection of integrated government ICT infrastructures and
designs, taking into consideration the inventory of existing manpower, plans, programs,
software, hardware, and installed systems;
(h) Assist and provide technical expertise to government agencies in the development of
guidelines in the enforcement and administration of laws, standards, rules, and regulations
governing ICT;
(i) Assess, review and support ICT research and development programs of the government in
coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other institutions
concerned;
(j) Prescribe the personnel qualifications and other qualification standards essential to the
effective development and operation of government ICT infrastructures and systems;
(k) Develop programs that would enhance the career advancement opportunities of ICT workers
in government;
(l) Assist in the dissemination of vital information essential to disaster risk reduction through the
use of ICT;
(m) Represent and negotiate for Philippine interest on matters pertaining to ICT in international
bodies, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other institutions
concerned;
IV. Consumer Protection and Industry Development
(n) Ensure and protect the rights and welfare of consumers and business users to privacy,
security and confidentiality in matters relating to ICT, in coordination with agencies concerned,
the private sector and relevant international bodies;
(o) Support the promotion of trade and investment opportunities in the ICT and ICT-ES sectors,
in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI_ and other relevant government
agencies and the private sector;
(p) Establish guidelines for public-private partnerships in the implementation of ICT projects for
government agencies;
(q) Promote strategic partnerships and alliances between and among local and international ICT ,
research and development, educational and training institutions to speed up industry growth and
enhance competitiveness of Philippine workers, firms, and small and medium enterprises in the
global markets for ICT and ICT-ES;
V. Cybersecurity Policy and Program Coordination
(r) To formulate a national cybersecurity plan consisting of robust and coherent strategies that
would minimize national security risks in order to promote a peaceful, secure, open and
cooperative ICT environment;
(s) To extend immediate assistance for the suppression of real-time commission of cybercrime
offenses and cyber-attacks against critical infrastructures and/or affecting national security
through a computer emergency response team (CERT);
(t) To provide pro-active government countermeasures to address and anticipate all domestic and
transnational incidents affecting the Philippine cyberspace and any cybersecurity threats to the
country;
(u) To enhance the public-private partnership in the field of information sharing involving cyber-
attacks, threats and vulnerabilities, and to coordinate in the preparation of appropriate and
effective measures to prevent and suppress cybercrime as provided in R.A. No. 10175
(v) To monitor cybercrime cases being handled by participating law and prosecution agencies,
and to facilitate international cooperation on intelligence, investigations, training and capacity
building related to cybercrime prevention, suppression, and prosecution;
(w) To coordinate the support participation of the business sector, local government units and
nongovernment organizations in cybercrime prevention programs and other related projects;
(x) To recommend the enactment of appropriate laws, issuances, measures and policies;
(y) To call upon any government agency to render assistance in the accomplishment of the
Department’s mandated tasks and functions;
(z) To perform all other matters related to cybercrime prevention and suppression including
capacity building and such other functions and duties as may be necessary for the proper
implementation of R.A. No. 10175;
VI. Countryside Development
(aa) Formulate policies in consultation with local government units and other local stakeholders
and line agencies for the implementation of responsive, relevant and comprehensive ICT-related
strategies to improve the competitiveness of provincial locations for ICT and ICT-ES industry in
order to develop balanced investments between high-growth and economically-depressed areas
and to promote the development and widespread use of ICT;
(bb) Develop plans and programs in coordination with LGUs and other local stakeholders and
line agencies to ensure that universal access to ICT services and infrastructure are effectively
utilized to generate investments and opportunities in the rural area or areas unserved by private
sector;
(cc) Assist, guide and support ICT-related activities and initiatives for countryside economic
development; and
(dd) Promote and assist LGUs and local stakeholders in developing specialized ICT-enabled
investments areas by providing technical and industry-calibrated assistance in the use of ICT for
the enhancement of key public services, development and promotion of local arts and culture,
tourism, digital literacy, and talent development.
Presented to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives its plans on
further improving telecommunications and internet connectivity in the Philippines, particularly
the plan for a government-owned national fiber optic network
()
Who was responsible for the establishment of the Philippine first connection to the Internet?
Benjie Tan
Early that morning March 29, 1994, 1:15 a.m.: Benjie Tan, established the Philippine's first
connection to the Internet at a PLDT network center in Makati City.

On March 29, 1994, 10:18 a.m. Dr. John Brule, a Professor Emeritus in Electrical and
Computer Engineering at the Syracuse University announced : “We’re in,” , during the First
International E-Mail Conference at the University of San Carlos Technological Center in
Talamban, Cebu. This signified that Philnet’s 64 kbit/s connection was live.

This is considered as the the day that Philippines is finally connected to the International Web.

Early that morning March 29, 1994, 1:15 a.m.: Benjie Tan, established the Philippine’s first
connection to the Internet at a PLDT network center in Makati City. He the posted the first short
message to the Usenet newsgroup soc.culture.filipino that a link is already live. To quote: “As of
March 29, 1994 at 1:15 am Philippine time, unfortunately 2 days late due to slight technical
difficulties, the Philippines was FINALLY connected to the Internet via SprintLink. The
Philippine router, a Cisco 7000 router was attached via the services of PLDT and Sprint
communications to SprintLink’s router at Stockton Ca. The gateway to the world for the
Philippines will be via NASA Ames Research Center. For now, a 64K serial link is the
information highway to the rest of the Internet world.”

While BBS was first established in Manila in 1986, and emails were already around in 1993 in
limited school to school . The Phase 1 of the DOST project began in July of 1993 with a limited
electronic facility linking DOST, ADMU, DLSU, and UPD with the use of UUCP. Through
dial up connection , Victoria University of Technology in Australia became the gateway to the
Internet and ADMU serves as the local relay hub for the Philippines.

Multinational corporations also have their own networks connected to their international offices
but most limited to email applications and billboards.

It was only in 1994 that internet has become availbel to the public. During that time, 64kbs was a
great thing and while internet was there at the campus the hundreds and thousands of university
students kept on thinking how it could possibly change the way students learn and change the
way people live and how it can help develop the country, or as simple as what is internet? 🙂

What could a 64kbps connection do, while we now – 24 years later, are whining over the slow
5Mbps (5,000 kbps) connection and aims for fiber connections with speeds up to 100Mbps.

That was the time of the BBS, mail clients as eudoramail, where you can downloan an email in
minutes especially if it has a small low resolution image with it.

The start may look small in the present generations technology but surely it was the birth of the
Internet Baby in the Philippines.

For whatever purpose it may serve the people best, we thank the people behind the project for its
humble start.

Let us hope that people will consider using the technology good use, help in personal and
prefessional development, community and social development, economic and democratic
devellopment for the country, and for the good benefit of humanity.

(https://iecepnegor.org/remembering-the-first-internet-connection-in-the-philippines/
#:~:text=Early%20that%20morning%20March%2029,network%20center%20in%20Makati
%20City.)

Data says PH internet improved; DICT says it could do better , September 19, 2020

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) presented to the

Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives its plans on further improving
telecommunications and internet connectivity in the Philippines, particularly the plan for a
government-owned national fiber optic network through the National Broadband Program
(NBP). This comes after apparent improvements in average internet speeds in the country,
according to recent surveys.
Based on the recent Ookla Global Index, the Philippines has significantly improved in Internet
speed, marking a 216.94 percent increase in fixed broadband speed and a 127.82 percent increase
in mobile internet speed from July 2016 to July 2020. According to the data, the country now
registers an average of 25.07Mbps and 16.95Mbps for fixed broadband and mobile internet,
respectively.
Based on online tech reviews, the average internet speed suggested for video conferencing is
around 1 to 4 Mbps, while standard definition and high-definition video streaming are around 3
to 4 Mbps and 5 to 8 Mbps, respectively. Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) requires only 90 to
156 kbps.
“While our mobile internet speed has multiplied in recent years, we can still do more by
improving our fiber optic cablesand cell tower infrastructure,” ICT Secretary Gregorio B.
Honasan II explained in a separate statement. “For practical purposes, one can already surf the
internet, use Facebook and YouTube, and make video calls with our current internet speed. From
time to time, I use my smart phone to check mobile internet speeds in the areas I go
to. Ginagawa din yan ng ibang tao. May ibang lugar more or less nasa 3 Mbps, may ibang lugar
naman more or less 7 Mbps. Kahit sino pwede sumubok nito. Of course, we need to aim higher
and the country can definitely do better. No excuses; we take full responsibility for the current
situation that our telecommunications and Internet connectivity are in.”
Honasan said that the DICT acknowledges the average internet speed improvements in the
country in the past four years, based on available data. However, he said that the Philippines’
biggest problem concerning digitalization remains the lack of ICT infrastructure, resulting in
poor coverage across the country, leaving many with weak to no connection signal. Thus,
Honasan emphasized the need for funding and support for the NBP.
“We should not leave the fate of our national ICT infrastructure to the private sector only. It is
high time for a government-owned network that’s built even in remote communities, not based
on their market viability, but with a mission to provide equal opportunity for all. We owe it to
our people. We owe it to our children,” Honasan said.
The proposed a budget of around P18 billion is set to cover the Philippines by 2022 under the
Program’s Phase 2. DICT Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Rey Caintic explained that the
proposed budget will speed up the lighting up of fiber optic cables of the National Grid
Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo)
across the country. He added that the DICT can simultaneously install active components for
fiber optic cables in various provinces and deliver expected results in six to nine months given
the requested funding. Part of the P18 billion will be spent on microwave radio towers which
will be deployed in areas with no fiber optic cables.
According to Caintic, Phase 1 of the NBP will be completed in early 2021. Using the 2019-2020
budget, the DICT is set to activate and connect the Cable Landing Station in Baler, Aurora to the
NGCP node in San Fernando, La Union through the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure. Four DICT
nodes and 15 NGCP nodes will also be activated.
“Maliit yung NBP Phase 1 in terms of geography, pero ang kagandahan, abot mula Baler
hanggang La Union, paikot ng Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Trinidad, Baguio, Region 2 and 3,
hanggang NCR,” he explained.
The DICT is currently in talks with eight provinces regarding the establishment of provincial
broadband networks that will be linked to the fiber optic cables from the National Broadband
Phase 1 implementation.
In perspective, neighboring countries with similar initiatives, such as Indonesia, Australia, and
New Zealand, have allotted significantly higher budgets for their National Broadband Network.
Indonesia is reported to have allocated over US$22 billion (P1.07 trillion) for its five-year
national broadband plan, while Australia and New Zealand have allocated around US$37 billion
(P1.79 trillion), and US$1.19 billion (P58 billion pesos), respectively. Other countries, such as
Singapore, are improving their systems by spending around US$550 million (P26.72 billion) and
opening up their network to all service providers. While the approved budget for NBP Phase 2 is
around P902 million, approximately P17 billion more is required to build a fiber optic network
that would encompass the entire country.
The NBP is part of DICT’s Connect-Connect-Connect initiative, which aims to improve
telecommunications and internet services in the country.
(https://dict.gov.ph/data-says-ph-internet-improved-dict-says-it-could-do-better/)

BSP says lack of internet connectivity is a hurdle to PalengQR PH rollout

June 30, 2023 | 12:02 am
THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) is looking to work with the Department of
Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to address the lack of internet
connectivity in some areas in the country amid the continued rollout of the PalengQR PH
program.

BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the lack of internet connection is one of
the main challenges local governments face in launching the PalengQR PH initiative.

“We don’t have enough internet connection. That’s the problem. So, we are asking help more
from DICT instead of the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government),” she said in
mixed English and Filipino.

The PalengQR PH program pushes for digital payments among market vendors, community
shopkeepers, and local transportation in cities and municipalities in the country.

The program was jointly developed by the BSP and the DILG and capitalizes on the QR Ph
initiative. QR Ph is the country’s quick response code standard, which gives customers of banks
and nonbank electronic money issuers a quick and secure way to pay, as well as transfer and
receive funds.

According to Ms. Romulo-Puyat, other local government units (LGUs) are interested in
launching the central bank program in their respective cities and municipalities, but most lack
internet connectivity or have slow internet speeds because of poor signal.
This was the case of Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel L. Benitez, who was interested in
launching the program after it was rolled out in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, but recognized
the area’s poor internet connection, she said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Romulo-Puyat lauded Baguio City’s free Wi-Fi link implemented earlier in
March. It was rolled out at the Baguio City Public Market to encourage vendors and consumers
to use digital payments.

Based on a survey conducted by the LGU, only a thousand of the market’s 3,900 vendors have
signed up for PalengQR due to lack of access to internet, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B.
Magalong earlier said.

“We want to make it work. For example, Baguio City implemented a free Wi-Fi connection.
We’ll see with this project if we can onboard more people (into the program),” Ms. Romulo-
Puyat said.

The central bank is also looking to monitor the areas where PalengQR PH was initially rolled out
before expanding the program to more cities across the country, Ms. Romulo-Puyat said.

“We have eight that we’ve launched and 14 have already passed ordinances. But what we want is
to make what we have work. It’s hard if we only launch programs but not all of them are
working effectively,” she said.

The PalengQR PH initiative was launched in parts of Mindanao, the Visayas, and Central Luzon,
starting in Baguio City last year.

The BSP gave banks and financial institutions until June 30 to fully adopt the national QR code
standard in a bid to accelerate digitalization.

The central bank has been encouraging the use of QR technology as a convenient and safe
payment solution, as it aims to turn half of the volume and value of payments into digital form
this year. — Keisha B. Ta-asan

(https://www.bworldonline.com/banking-finance/2023/06/30/531450/bsp-says-lack-of-internet-
connectivity-is-a-hurdle-to-palengqr-ph-rollout/)