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How does the implementation of technology impact the digital divide?RESEARCHED BY: SITTI ANNIKA ZARAH ABDULHAMID

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URL: https://youtu.be/K_FSxd7utNs?si=H9cwbrbdyZBEWzCA

TITLE: How does the implementation of technology impact the digital divide?

AUTHOR: IITPSA

DATE: June 13, 2022

KEY INFO: Technology professionals and organizations must prioritize ethical considerations in their work to prevent widening the digital divide and ensure the inclusivity of online spaces access, as emphasized by Josine Overdevest, founder of Flying Cows of Jozi and chairperson of the IITPSA Social and Ethics Committee.

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How does the implementation of technology impact the digital divide?

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The digital divide                                                                          RESEARCHED BY: JHIAN GERARD CORNEJO

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgeY7tZTuFs

TITLE: Closing the digital divide

AUTHOR: News 8 WROC

DATE: Aug. 16, 2020

KEY INFO: Students face significant educational challenges due to inadequate internet and online spaces access, exacerbating the digital divide.

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Bridging the New Digital Divide                                                 RESEARCHED BY: ZYLLIAN ROSH VONN CLEMEN

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URL: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/bridging-the-new-digital-divide-lori-day

TITLE: Bridging the New Digital Divide

AUTHOR: Lori Day

DATE: Jan. 3, 2013

KEY INFO: Navigating the new digital divide in disadvantaged schools due to the lack of online spaces demands strategic resource allocation to integrate technology while prioritizing real-world experiences for comprehensive student development.

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At the highest performing urban school in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, the mantra when it comes to education is "children always come first." And it isn't easy.

Like most public charter schools, the Paul Cuffee School strives to provide the same excellence in educational technology as nearby public schools, but because resources must primarily be allocated to paying salaries and leasing school buildings, extra money for technology is scarce.

Future Shock

Michael Obel-Omia, Head of School at Paul Cuffee, is constantly analyzing the needs of his students and faculty within the context of a long-range plan for IT integration that skates on a shoestring budget. His fundamental question?

In March of 2010, no one had even heard of an iPad. Now, two years later, there are 50 million of them. This is new technology, and the computing world has so much fluidity. How do I know that something newer won't take its place after my school has sacrificed to make a huge investment in tablets? The Amazon Kindle is less money than the iPad, but will it survive? The HP tablet was taken off the market! This is like choosing VHS or Beta. What if we choose wrong?

This anxiety might be found in any public school, but in a socioeconomically disadvantaged school like Paul Cuffee, with a population that includes 89% racial minorities, 77% students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and 46% from families living in deep poverty (with household incomes at less than half the federal poverty level), the stakes are exceptionally high when spending decisions are made. An iPad does not cost $500, even if that's what it says on the sticker. It costs $500 plus the expense of training, IT support and eventual upgrade or replacement. Technology purchases must be made wisely and strategically, and there is no room for error. According to Obel-Omia:

Technology is a tool, not a solution. What really matters in the classroom is teacher quality -- the human component of education. While we must prepare our students to be successful in a high-tech world, for this population of kids, there really is nothing more important than excellent teachers. There is no metric for how they "ignite the flame." We must make tough choices here.

Striking a Virtual-Actual Balance

The term "digital divide" used to refer to whether classrooms had computers and Internet connections. Today, there is a new kind of digital divide. Now that most American schools have basic hardware and connectivity, there is a sharp socioeconomic division between those that have savvy tech professionals and the high-speed connections that can support WiFi-dependent tablets or laptops, and those that lack these basic internal support structures for individual student devices, let alone the funds to purchase them for all students.

Further, there is a divide between those students who have parents able to support their technology use and learning at home, and those who do not. At Paul Cuffee, parents tend to be "connected" in that they have smartphones and computers, but they are often unable to supervise their children's understanding and use of technology at home due to a variety of cultural, economic and educational factors. This practice at home is critical to a child's ability to take advantage of what is taught in school. As schools become more technologically advanced, many homes do not keep up.

Then there are the trade-offs all schools face when allocating instructional time. As Obel-Omia explains:

It may be sexy and exciting to put a laptop or iPad into every student's hand. But if it doesn't teach critical thinking, reflection, compassion, citizenship -- is this the best investment for these kids? Skilled adults are needed in the lives of students to make an iPad more than a toy.

And if you ask the teachers and administrators at Paul Cuffee how they rank the priorities, you will hear the same conversations over and over about the pressing need for students to have "authentic experiences" such as field trips. For these teachers, virtual experiences on the computer take a back seat to real visits to museums, libraries and other cultural institutions that fit seamlessly ino the daily lives of most middle- and upper-middle-class children.

In any discussion about technology involving the phrase "education will be revolutionized," one has to wonder how to strike the optimal balance between the virtual world and the real world for each child.

Obel-Omia concludes:

There's a car commercial that talks about how the car can be used to "explore the world wide world," as opposed to the World Wide Web. I feel it's our responsibility to help our students unplug and explore their world. It's so amazing. Our kids live only a few miles from the beach, yet many of them have never seen the ocean until we take them there.

How might we best strike that balance between virtual and "real" world, particularly for more disadvantaged kids? Have you seen any good examples you'd like to share?

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At the highest performing urban school in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, the mantra when it comes to education is "children always come first." And it isn't easy. Like most public charter schools, the Paul Cuffee School strives to provide the same excellence in educational technology as nearby public schools, but because resources must primarily be allocated to paying salaries and leasing school buildings, extra money for technology is scarce.

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Living with the Digital Divide: Exploring Internet and Computer Technology (Ict) Accessibility and Digital Inequality Through the Experiences of Educators & Students                                          RESEARCH BY: ZYLLIAN ROSH VONN CLEMEN

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URL: https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=13380

TITLE: Living with the Digital Divide: Exploring Internet and Computer Technology (Ict) Accessibility and Digital Inequality Through the Experiences of Educators & Students

AUTHOR: Monique Tagaytay, Mara Panganiban, Yvon Jayson

DATE PUBLISHED: October 2017

KEY INFO: In a school in Tacunan District, Davao City, Philippines, educators and students struggle with limited access to digital computer technologies, leading to feelings of inadequacy among students and anxiety among teachers, prompting educators to personally fund internet devices and laptops to bridge the digital divide.

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Living with the Digital Divide: Exploring Internet and Computer Technology (Ict) Accessibility and Digital Inequality Through the Experiences of Educators & Students

Monique Tagaytay | Mara Panganiban | Yvon Jayson

Abstract:

This phenomenological study aimed to look into how educators and students negotiate lack of access to digital computer technologies in a school in Tacunan District, Davao City, Philippines. By using in-depth interviews and focus group discussion, the study found that the lack of ability to manipulate computers and navigate the internet as well as having no access to internet technologies caused difficulty among students in their learning, making them feel inadequate compared to those who had internet access. The study also found that for teachers instead of adding and enriching learning, the use of digital computer technology became a source of anxiety among learners. The lack of funding of the school for computer units and computer laboratory also added to the struggle of the educators and students. In order to deal with the Digital Divide that is evident in their school, the teachers would utilize their own money to buy portable Internet devices, buy credits for these devices and even lend their own personal laptops to students in order for them to have "hands on" experience with computers and the Internet. Students shared that they would have to travel long distances in order to be able to use the Internet when these facilities should have been available in their school so that they could learn how to use them for course work and in their future professions. The students added that they feel they are inferior as compared to students in private schools who are well provided with computer and Internet facilities. The study's findings bear significant implications to education and learning as well as policy formation for educational institutions in the public sector in order to address the presence of the Digital Divide.

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Living with the Digital Divide: Exploring Internet and Computer Technology (Ict) Accessibility and Digital Inequality Through the Experiences of Educators & Students | KITE E-Learning Solutions, Inc.

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Living with the Digital Divide: Exploring Internet and Computer Technology (Ict) Accessibility and Digital Inequality Through the Experiences of Educators & Students

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This phenomenological study aimed to look into how educators and students negotiate lack of access to digital computer technologies in a school in Tacunan District, Davao City, Philippines.

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URL: https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps2030.pdf

TITLE: Digital Divide and the Platform Economy: Looking for the Connection from the Asian Experience

AUTHOR: Francis Mark A. Quimba, Maureen Ane D. Rosellon, and Sylwyn C. Calizo Jr.

DATE PUBLISHED: December 2020

KEY INFO: The book explores how the digital divide and lack of access to inclusive online spaces access intersect with the platform economy, emphasizing its impact on the Philippines and Mindanao.

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URL: https://fb.watch/r2j2lLYHmZ/

TITLE: Bouncing Back in the New Normal through Countryside Development and Agricultural Resilience

AUTHOR: ADDU Institutional Communications and Promotions Office

DATE: September 18, 2020

KEY INFO: The 6th Mindanao Policy Research Forum emphasizes the imperative to improve internet connectivity through satellite technology for COVID-19 resilience, amid Mindanao's challenge of having the highest percentage of barangays without internet access, exacerbating the digital divide.

KEY INFO: The 6th Mindanao Policy Research Forum emphasizes the imperative to improve internet connectivity through satellite technology for COVID-19 resilience, amid Mindanao's challenge of having the highest percentage of barangays without internet access, exacerbating the digital divide.

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Connecting the Unconnected: Podcast with Aud and Enzo | EP. 2 - “Tulay Tungo sa Maunlad na Buhay”                                                                RESEARCHED BY: ZYLLIAN ROSH VONN CLEMEN

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URL: https://youtu.be/FcLoO-vRtCc?feature=shared

TITLE: Connecting the Unconnected: Podcast with Aud and Enzo | EP. 2 - “Tulay Tungo sa Maunlad na Buhay”

AUTHOR: Audrey's Archive

DATE: May 5, 2023

KEY INFO: In Davao del Sur, the podcast highlights the pressing issue of the digital divide, hindering access to quality education and technological advancement, especially for students, amidst discussions on Christian morality principles.

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Connecting the Unconnected: Podcast with Aud and Enzo | EP. 2 - “Tulay Tungo sa Maunlad na Buhay”

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NGCP helps bridge the digital divide with computer laboratories                                                                             RESEARCHED BY: ZYLLIAN ROSH VONN CLEMEN

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14.) NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE  

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14.) NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE  

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URL: https://www.ngcp.ph/article?cid=16549

TITLE: NGCP helps bridge the digital divide with computer laboratories

AUTHOR: National Grid Corporation of the Philippines

DATE PUBLISHED: June 3, 2022

KEY INFO: NGCP's TECHKID initiative targets the digital gap in underserved regions where internet access is limited, providing essential computer laboratories to enhance students' proficiency crucial for online and modular learning methods.

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URL: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1212030

TITLE: Remote Davao villages get Internet connection

AUTHOR: Che Palicte

DATE PUBLISHED: Oct. 18, 2023

KEY INFO: Davao's Peace 911 program extends internet access to remote barangays, addressing the lack of inclusivity in online spaces and fostering community participation and social development in underserved communities of Paquibato District.

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Remote Davao villages get Internet connection

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The local government’s Peace 911 program and the City Information and Technology Center (CITC) have joined forces to provide Internet connections to far-flung barangays.In an interview Wednesday, Peace 911 VSAT Project focal person Javi Sucuahi said the villages of Colosas and Tapak…

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Empowering connectivity: Addressing obstacles to Internet access in the Philippines                               RESEARCHED BY: ZYLLIAN ROSH VONN CLEMEN

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URL: https://palawan-news.com/empowering-connectivity-addressing-obstacles-to-internet-access-in-the-philippines/

TITLE: Empowering connectivity: Addressing obstacles to Internet access in the Philippines

AUTHOR: Celeste Anna Formoso

DATE PUBLISHED: June 10, 2023

KEY INFO: The digital divide in the Philippines, particularly in regions like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), is starkly evident, with a lack of broadband infrastructure significantly impacting education, as highlighted by the Department of Education's evaluation revealing limited online access for a majority of public school students.

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Filipinos have three key difficulties in acquiring access to dependable, inexpensive, and secure Internet: restrictive and archaic licensing processes, a lack of a framework for infrastructure sharing, and costly and time-consuming network rollout and Right of Way (RoW) approval.

Better Internet PH (BIP), a group of stakeholders dedicated to enhancing Internet connectivity in the country, emphasized that these challenges necessitate extensive reforms and policy interventions focused on streamlining licensing procedures, establishing mechanisms for infrastructure sharing, and implementing measures to reduce the cost and complexity of network deployment approval.

During the "Building Blocks: The U.S.-Philippine Partnership for a Prosperous and Cyber-secure Digital Economy" event on June 6 in Cebu, Mary Grace Mirandilla-Santos, an independent policy researcher and lead advocate for BIP, expressed to journalists that effectively tackling these challenges holds the key to fostering a more inclusive and interconnected digital ecosystem in the Philippines, ultimately benefiting all its residents.

However, prior to exploring potential solutions, it is crucial to examine the fundamental factors underlying the difficulties in accessing Internet services, particularly those living in remote villages in the provinces.

Santos said that based on the Department of Information and Communications Technology's (DICT) 2019 National ICT Household Survey, around 30 million households in the country did not have Internet access. They remained offline as the COVID-19 pandemic approached due to the digital divide caused by the obstacles.

One of the sectors profoundly affected by the consequences of this digital divide, she said, was education. To assess the extent of the issue, the Department of Education (DepEd) conducted an evaluation of student Internet connectivity during the lockdown. The findings revealed a significant disparity, with 52 percent of public schools and a staggering 83 percent of their students unable to access the online resources necessary for remote learning.

Many of the over 42,000 barangays lacked access to basic internet infrastructure, with 70% lacking access to fiber optic cables, 60% lacking access to cellular towers, and 80% lacking access to free Wi-Fi.

Santos also highlighted a significant statistic in the context of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) - less than one percent of the 2,500+ barangays in the region have access to broadband services.

"There are several factors that affect access, but in the Philippines, the availability of broadband infrastructure is, actually, at the heart of the digital divide, or the difference between the haves and the have nots in terms of broadband access," she said, and this is felt more at the community level.

Quality of Internet service
Santos said that when it comes to the quality of service, specifically in terms of download speed, gamers have reported that despite Ookla's speed test showing 800 megabits per second (Mbps), they are still unable to play. This implies that having a high download speed does not guarantee a good connectivity experience.

"According to Ookla, in terms of speed, the Philippines was found to have, well-its mobile Internet is 37 percent slower than the ASEAN average. But in terms of fixed broadband, or wired broadband, our median speed is actually slightly faster than the average in the ASEAN region," she said.

The average mobile median download speed in Mbps is 40.98 in ASEAN, while it is 25.63 in the Philippines. On the other hand, the average fixed median download speed in Mbps is 85.67 in ASEAN, whereas in the Philippines, it is slightly higher at 90.57.

Regarding affordability, Santos emphasized the significance of considering the portion of a household's income dedicated to Internet subscription when analyzing the situation in the Philippines.

Citing the recently published 2023 World Data Lab findings on the Internet Poverty Index, she pointed out that among ASEAN countries, the Philippines ranks second with a mobile Internet poverty rate of 16.60 percent. The highest percentage of mobile Internet poverty is observed in Laos, standing at 20.80 percent.

"If this is any indication to you, Cambodia and Myanmar are doing much better in terms of affordability," she said.

Santos also referenced data from Cable.co.uk, which indicated a consistent decline in the average monthly cost of fixed or wired broadband in the Philippines since 2020-2021. This information underlines the disparity between mobile and fixed broadband.

In addition, she mentioned the Affordability Drivers Index Score 2021, revealing that the Philippines has the second-lowest affordability score among ASEAN countries, just slightly better than Laos.

Challenges in better Internet access
She emphasized that various studies, including one conducted by the World Bank and BIP, have identified significant obstacles that prevent Filipinos from accessing an Internet connection that is accessible, reliable, affordable, and secure. One of the key issues identified is the restrictive and outdated licensing process for broadband networks.

The existing licensing framework implemented by the government imposes restrictions that confine the establishment and operation of broadband networks exclusively to telecommunications (telcos). As a result, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are limited to the role of mere resellers.

Santos provided an explanation highlighting the nature of the Internet as a distributed and decentralized network. This unique architecture allows individuals to have Internet connections, even in small municipalities in Mindanao, even in the absence of a nationwide network. The connectivity is made possible by the concept that as long as one can connect to a single node, it can facilitate the connection to the broader Internet.

"But because the licensing is design to give a permit or license to big nationwide telcos, essentially telephone operators, then we have ISPs that are actually just resellers," she stated.

Santos said that another challenge is that in the country, there is a lack of infrastructure sharing, resulting in telcos independently carrying out tasks such as road excavation, fiber laying, pole installation, and, until recently, tower ownership.

Infrastructure sharing encompasses the practice of jointly utilizing physical network components, such as towers, cables, or other facilities, among multiple operators. This collaborative approach allows these operators to provide their services using the shared infrastructure. Insufficient infrastructure sharing can result in redundant resources, elevated expenses, and inefficient use of infrastructure, ultimately leading to restricted access, elevated prices, and delayed service deployment.

Santos noted a positive development in this regard, stating that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has implemented a common tower policy. This policy allows multiple mobile network operators to share a single tower within a community, eliminating the need for each operator to construct their own towers.

However, the third challenge lies in the costly and time-consuming process of obtaining permits for network rollout.

"What does this mean? To connect to the Internet, physical facilities are required, and communities need to be interconnected. Each community has its own set of permits, requirements, and so on, and this applies not only at the local government level but also with national government agencies, which often impose unnecessary requirements," she explained.

Fortunately, she said that the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is actively working alongside the DICT, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and other relevant government entities to address this issue.

Curative laws needed
But she pointed out that more needs to be done in terms of government policies to ensure better Internet access for all. Republic Act 7925, also recognized as the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of 1995, had established legal and regulatory barriers that have hindered the advancement of the Internet and ICT industries in the Philippines.

This law aimed to liberalize the telecommunications sector, enabling the entry of new telephone operators such as Globe, Islacom, Piltel, and others into the market in the past. However, she explained that when it comes to the Internet in the present day, it has limitations on network development and expansion.

"Network operators are required by this law to secure a Congressional franchise and a certificate of public convenience and necessity. These requirements are basically for a telephone network, and usually, if you're a telephone network, you have to deploy a network nationwide, which should not be the case for ISPs, or those who want to connect the communities," she explained.

"It also promotes a restrictive environment so non-telco providers are not allowed to build their own Internet network even if the technology they're using is not actually telephone-based," she added.

Santos is making this statement because when the Internet was first introduced to the Philippines in 1994, it relied on dial-up connections using telephones. But over the years, numerous Internet technologies have emerged, including cable TV and satellite Internet options like Starlink.

Santos said there is a need for a "curative law" to address the barriers that hinder access to reliable, affordable, and secure Internet in the Philippines. Currently, there are three bills in Congress aimed at tackling these issues and finding suitable solutions, which need to be passed.

The first is the Open Access in Internet Services Act, which aims to establish a regulatory framework specifically tailored for Internet services. This act proposes two significant reforms: reducing barriers and facilitating the entry of Internet network operators, and streamlining registration and qualification processes for service providers, to be overseen by industry regulators.

She noted that if this law is enacted, it would set a global best practice, as "the Philippines is the only country in the world that still requires Congress to issue a franchise."

"If I were an ISP in Zamboanga, I need to go to Congress and ask it to pass a law as the first step to licensing my ISP so that I will be a telco even if I don't intend to offer telco services. Telco services is your voice calls, or mobile cellular SMS," she stated.

Santos said that numerous community ISPs, such as cable TV operators, are operating in almost every municipality across the country and have the capacity to offer fiber broadband services. However, they are currently restricted from expanding their fiber broadband coverage beyond the areas covered by their service franchise.

Despite their desire to expand their network to encompass additional towns, she stated that they are unable to do so unless they apply for a Congressional franchise or seek provisional authority to operate, she added.

The passage of the bill is crucial, she said, as it will expedite and streamline broadband deployment by establishing a policy framework for infrastructure sharing. Moreover, it will institutionalize the reforms introduced by ARTA, DICT, and other agencies, ensuring a more efficient approval process.

"Again, it will simplify the licensing process. And, I think, it's central to the ease of doing business," she said.

She stated that the law was adopted by the House on third reading in December 2022, but it has never passed the Senate since 2016 despite overwhelming support from various government agencies, including the DICT, the business sector, and the civil society.

The second and third bills they're hoping would be passed is the Rural Wired Internet Development Act, which aims to incentivize market players to expand wired Internet services in remote areas, and the Faster Internet Service Act, which seeks to mandate Internet service providers to expand coverage and meet a minimum connection speed requirement.

"As you already know, wired Internet like fiber broadband is the most reliable in terms of quality service, so we do want to promote the deployment or expansion of wired Internet. However, deploying wired or cable Internet can be more expensive and difficult in the rural areas," she said.

The most significant aspect of the proposed Faster Internet Service Act, meanwhile, is that it will require service stability, which means that Internet consumers will get what they paid for.

Whatever the ISPs advertise should be what consumers should receive, or at least 80% of what they're supposed to get.

Santos stated that the BIP supports three bills, with a particular emphasis on the Open Access Bill, as it encompasses all the essential reforms they believe will drive progress.

"Apart from lowering barriers to entry for those who want to build broadband networks, and we'd like to emphasize that this is specially for the communities. The small ISPs should be allowed to build networks and connect their communities," she said, which is now being practiced in many countries around the world.

She stressed that the Open Access Bill includes a provision concerning the rights of Internet users, making it "very important."

She expressed the BIP's hope that President Bongbong Marcos Jr.'s vision of digitalization will soon become a reality in the country, enabling communities to be connected online.

"If we don't change any of our laws right now, if we don't introduce the Open Access Bill, we believe that it would be status quo. What we have now, what we're experiencing now, what your communities are experiencing now, would be the same, unless there are ISPs that would grow big enough to want a franchise from Congress," she said.

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Empowering connectivity: Addressing obstacles to Internet access in the Philippines

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Filipinos have three key difficulties in acquiring access to dependable, inexpensive, and secure Internet: restrictive and archaic licensing processes, a lack of a framework for infrastructure sharing, and costly and time-consuming network rollout and Right of Way (RoW) approval. Better Internet PH (BIP), a group of stakeholders dedicated to enhancing Internet connectivity in the country, [...]

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Bridging the Digital Infrastructure Gap: Policy Options for Connecting Filipinos                                                                                                                       RESEARCHED BY: NEO ASHTON BANGAYAN

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URL: https://medium.com/@betterinternetph/bridging-the-digital-infrastructure-gap-policy-options-for-connecting-filipinos-fb8d600a0d6

TITLE: Bridging the Digital Infrastructure Gap: Policy Options for Connecting Filipinos

AUTHOR: Better Internet PH

DATE PUBLISHED: Sept. 7, 2021

KEY INFO: The Philippines faces a significant digital divide, with a large percentage of individuals, particularly outside urban centers and regions like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), lacking internet access due to poor availability of digital infrastructure at the barangay and household levels.

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Recent press releases point to improving fixed and mobile Internet download speeds in the Philippines. However, Internet access is a topic often ignored. The first-ever DICT National ICT Household Survey reveals that 53% of Filipino individuals age 10 years old and above did not use the Internet in 2019, and the percentage dips below 40% outside of the National Capital Region (NCR) and Luzon. The survey shows that poor Internet access is coupled with poor availability of digital infrastructure in the barangay and household levels, especially outside the urban centers. In some regions, like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), only less than 1% of barangays have access to basic broadband facilities.

The latest Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Policy Note 2021-07, "Bridging the Digital Infrastructure Gap: Policy Options for Connecting Filipinos," analyzes the infrastructure gap and digital divide from a supply-constrained lens. Specifically, this study looks at the level of access of communities (barangays) and households to ICT infrastructures and services. The study notes that outdated laws have stifled the growth of internet service providers. Hence, the government should remove regulatory barriers and expand market opportunities to enable players to invest, build, and innovate. It also recommends that the government's digital infrastructure investments be targeted and limited to network segments and areas where the market fails to deliver.

You may access the PIDS PN №2021-07 on "Bridging the Digital Infrastructure Gap: Policy Options for Connecting Filipinos" here: https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidspn2107.pdf.

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Bridging the Digital Infrastructure Gap: Policy Options for Connecting Filipinos

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Recent press releases point to improving fixed and mobile Internet download speeds in the Philippines. However, Internet access is a topic often ignored. The first-ever DICT National ICT Household...

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PLDT, Smart and ATRIEV enable more visually impaired individuals in Mindanao                                              RESEARCHED BY: ZYLLIAN ROSH VONN CLEMEN       

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URL: http://www.upgrademag.com/web/2024/02/23/pldt-smart-and-atriev-enable-more-visually-impaired-individuals-in-mindanao/

TITLE: PLDT, Smart and ATRIEV enable more visually impaired individuals in Mindanao

AUTHOR: Upgrade Magazine Staff

DATE PUBLISHED: Feb. 23, 2024

KEY INFO: PLDT, Smart, and ATRIEV join forces to empower visually impaired entrepreneurs in Mindanao by launching the Digital Business Basics Training program, aimed at bridging the digital divide and ensuring access to online spaces for all.

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PLDT, Smart, and ATRIEV, or Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired, recently concluded the second run of their Digital Business Basics Training (DBBT) in Mindanao.

Twenty-five entrepreneurs with disabilities from Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, completed the 10-day workshop, a milestone in PLDT, Smart, and ATRIEV's journey toward enabling inclusive community participation through technology.

Visually-impaired participant Sharita Sulaiman shared her appreciation for the training, "I own a small business and because of this initiative, I realized that there are a lot of opportunities for me to grow my business with the help of technology. Thank you, ATRIEV, PLDT and Smart."

DBBT, designed for persons with disabilities, aims to bridge the digital divide by enabling entrepreneurs to perform important business-related tasks with the help of technology. The program covers the essentials of digital business, focusing on using Android Apps for business, e-wallets like Maya for financial transactions, innovative marketing strategies, and delivery apps to help entrepreneurs understand logistics and customer service.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Brian Aubrey Serrano, ATRIEV lead trainer, said, "Through this training, the participants will learn new skills that can help them to start and strategize their business. We are teaching them different online applications that could help them sell their products in Upi and all over the country."

This engagement with ATRIEV is part of PLDT and Smart's much broader Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy through Technology (IDEATe) program, which seeks the successful participation of marginalized sectors in the digital economy. IDEATe also contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which include Goal No. 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and UNSDG No. 10 Reduced Inequalities by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. This also underscores the PLDT Group's commitment to innovation, and supports the government's key digitalization efforts.

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PLDT, Smart and ATRIEV enable more visually impaired individuals in Mindanao

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Twenty-five entrepreneurs with disabilities from Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, completed the 10-day workshop, a milestone in PLDT, Smart, and ATRIEV's journey toward enabling inclusive community participation through technology.

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Digitising dreams across Mindanao, Philippines.                         RESEARCHED BY: NEO ASHTON BANGAYAN

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8.) PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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8.) PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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URL: https://youtu.be/ISTat1JEX8c?feature=shared

TITLE: Digitising dreams across Mindanao, Philippines.

AUTHOR: LiteHaus International

DATE: May 23, 2023

KEY INFO: The Digital Infrastructure Program, in collaboration with Energy Development Corporation and DXC Technology, has facilitated the installation of 18 computer labs in Mindanao's Kidapawan region, introducing 8,000 students to vital digital tools, thereby addressing the digital infrastructure access deficit in Filipino classrooms.

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Digitising dreams across Mindanao, Philippines.

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URL: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/7KGHRt3bAu9CSmXc/?mibextid=oFDknk

TITLE: Where innovative ideas meet well-developed infrastructure: Ignite the road for a better future.

AUTHOR: Yana Bondoc

DATE: Feb. 9, 2024

KEY INFO: SDG 9 drives sustainable development through innovative industries, resilient infrastructure, and equitable access to technology and online spaces, ensuring a brighter and more inclusive future for all.

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ABOT KONEKSYON - ADDUvocacy short documentary for MIL                           RESEARCHED BY: ZYLLIAN ROSH VONN CLEMEN

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URL: https://youtu.be/3CjAhy7LuiA?feature=shared

TITLE: ABOT KONEKSYON - ADDUvocacy short documentary for MIL

AUTHOR: Alexander Samuel Ibañez
DATE: Dec. 10, 2022

KEY INFO: The documentary explores the detrimental effects of poor internet connectivity and lack of online platforms access on the lives of residents in places like Tacunan, Davao City, highlighting disruptions to work, education, and daily activities amidst efforts by the government to address infrastructure challenges.

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ABOT KONEKSYON - ADDUvocacy short documentary for MIL

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One Mindanao: Business and government digital transformation, ipinagmamalaki ng GMA New Media INC.                                                                                                                RESEARCHED BY: CLENT EBRHIM SULTAN

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URL: https://youtu.be/p3ykoTYLrpQ?si=Jt-ocNN3Dpd0QxWY

TITLE: One Mindanao: Business and government digital transformation, ipinagmamalaki ng GMA New Media INC.

AUTHOR: One Mindanao

DATE: September 28, 2022

KEY INFO: GMA New Media INC. showcases its role in advancing business and government digital transformation, collaborating with other companies to promote digitization and widen the access to digital world among Dabawenyos.

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One Mindanao: Business and government digital transformation, ipinagmamalaki ng GMA New Media INC.

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Satellite solutions: Filling in Mindanao's digital gaps - BusinessWorld Online             RESEARCHED BY: JHIAN GERARD CORNEJO

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URL: https://www.bworldonline.com/special-reports/2021/09/06/394261/satellite-solutions-filling-in-mindanaos-digital-gaps/

TITLE: Satellite solutions: Filling in Mindanao’s digital gaps

AUTHOR: Marifi S. Jara & Arjay L. Balinbin

DATE PUBLISHED: Sept. 6, 2021

KEY INFO: The initiative "ACCESS Mindanao" utilizes satellite technology to bridge the digital gap in remote areas, providing internet access to schools, hospitals, businesses, and communities, addressing the fundamental issue of connectivity disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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THE PANDEMIC highlighted digital connectivity as a need and not a want, on par with basics like food, water and electricity.

"That was the time when we shifted towards online, online everything,"

Rogel Mari Sese, chair of the Ateneo de Davao University's (AdDU) Department of Aerospace Engineering, said in a virtual interview.

He took on that post in March 2020, the same month that the Philippines started implementing restrictions to mitigate coronavirus transmission, including the abandonment of face-to-face classes.

By June that year, AdDU was one of the first academic institutions in the country ready to go fully online with its academic programs.

"Our infrastructure, our system was prepared (to) easily shift towards online education," he said.

"However, we looked at it also as an issue that we might have a good level of connectivity here in the campus, but the same cannot be said for our students in their homes, in their provinces; some are even from outside Mindanao."

The Jesuit-run school launched a program providing WiFi access and soft loans to buy devices to students who needed assistance. But even with the tools available, getting online at stable and minimum speeds was a more fundamental problem in many areas.

The university's leadership also knew that telecommunication companies could not possibly expand the country's cable and cellular mobile networks in the time required.

The government's National Broadband Plan released in 2017 acknowledges the lamentable state of the Philippines' data network system.

"Despite the notable progress in the country's overall internet performance, the Philippines lags behind its peers in terms of affordability, availability and speed of internet access," states the plan prepared by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), then just a year old as an agency headed by a Cabinet-level minister.

It cites several international reports - including from the World Economic Forum and the International Telecommunication Union, as well as the Global Information Technology Report, among others - pointing to the country's low ranking in terms of internet services.

The 2019 National ICT Household Survey, the first national baseline report conducted by the DICT and the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute, indicates that only about 50% of communities have telecommunication operators in their area, only 30% of the country's more than 42,000 barangays have fiber-optic cables installed, only about 13% have free public WiFi in their communities, and only 15.7% of households have internet access.

These percentages are even lower in Mindanao, more so in the Bangsamoro provinces where, for example, the number of households with internet access was only 5.1%.

ACCESS MINDANAO
Mr. Sese, one of the country's three astrophysicists and the former focal person of the Philippine Space Science Education Program, knew of a solution in his line of expertise that could immediately address the digital gap.

"I told Father Joel (E. Tabora, AdDU president), that it's very easy. Instead of waiting for the telcos to lay the groundwork, the infrastructure, we utilize the technology that's available, and has been available for almost 60 years, and that's using satellites."

And thus ACCESS Mindanao (AdDU Community Connectivity Empowered by Satellite Service for Mindanao) was born.

Launched in October 2020, the program that aims to establish a network of schools, hospitals, businesses, and communities that are linked to the internet through satellites now has 11 sites across Mindanao. The 12 th - to be located in the island province of Dinagat - is set for installation in September.

Most of the locations are far-flung such as Tawi-Tawi, the country's southernmost islands; or secluded like Barangay Demoloc in Malita, Davao Occidental; or are best with peace and security challenges.

Several others, which now form part of the project's second phase, have been lined up in partnership with the Ateneo de Davao Academy of Life-Long Learning and the Commission on Higher Education for areas in Maguindanao, and local governments that put forward requests.

Ownership of the small-aperture antennas is immediately turned over to the beneficiary community, along with training on their maintenance and operation. Subscriptions to satellite services are partly subsidized by the ACCESS Mindanao program for a year.

Mr. Sese said it costs an average of P350,000 to set up each site, including equipment, training, and logistics.

The AdDU-led project is supported by the DICT's Mindanao clusters, Catholic church units, the Davao Medical School Foundation, the Mindanao Development Authority, and the host local governments.

The project's ultimate goal is to see the launch of a national telecommunications satellite that will cover the whole archipelago, providing access to distance education, telemedicine, financial technology, e-commerce, government services, and disaster management and response.

"We're not saying that this is something that can replace fiber optic or ground-based infrastructure," Mr. Sese said. "We see it more as a complementary technology that can provide connectivity to the last-mile locations... and in any system, we always want redundancy... something to back it up (the ground network) as well."

ON THE GROUND
The country's major telecommunication providers are currently focused on their respective cable network expansions, but do recognize the potential role of satellite technology in achieving a truly inclusive digital Philippines.

They welcomed Executive Order 127, issued in March this year, that liberalized access to satellite technology for internet services.

"We believe that liberalizing access to satellite services will pave the way for a more robust digital infrastructure for the country and achieve our shared dream of nationwide connectivity," said Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Dennis Anthony Uy in an e-mail interview.

He added that the company is also open to "the possibility of harnessing satellite technology" in "some areas unreachable by fixed broadband," citing mining locations and island resorts among the potential markets.

Globe Telecom, Inc.'s Emmanuel Estrada, senior vice-president for Technology Strategy & Service Integration, said the company has been using satellite "as backhaul for its remote rural cell sites as well as (to provide) connectivity for some enterprise customers in remote locations."

And it welcomes the opening of satellite access to other internet service providers saying, "it is very timely in the light of new satellite technologies and the need to provide inclusive connectivity to still unconnected areas in the country as it continues its journey towards the new digital economy."

PLDT, Inc., the oldest of the big providers, now has its business strategy centered on "wired or wireless" networks "as these provide better quality (lower latency) and more affordable prices."

"We used to have investments in three satellite companies because in the past, we used satellites to provide service. Owing, however, to the increasing demand for better-quality of service and at more affordable prices, we have slowly shifted clients using our satellite-based services into wired or wireless," PLDT said in a statement.

The ACCESS Mindanao communities are currently using their new connectivity mainly for education - distance learning and teacher training programs, and health services. The Miarayon site, an upland community in Bukidnon, is looking into how farmers can tap the service for online market linkages.

Mr. Sese, who played a key role in the drafting and passage of Republic Act 11363 or the Philippine Space Act 2019, stressed that space technology such as satellites is "something that is not far off from our day-to-day lives."

There are currently at least 15 telecommunications satellites with footprints in the Philippines, all foreign-owned.

He is hopeful that through a public-private partnership, the country will again have its own satellite that will initially require between P6 to P10 billion in investment.

"It makes sense for a country such as the Philippines where you have more than 7,600 islands to have one satellite that can connect everyone, no matter how isolated you are," he said.

He drives home the point by quoting the National Space Act, "The Philippines will focus on space applications that can preserve and enhance the country's national security and promote development that is beneficial to all Filipinos."

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

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Satellite solutions: Filling in Mindanao's digital gaps - BusinessWorld Online

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THE PANDEMIC highlighted digital connectivity as a need and not a want, on par with basics like food, water and electricity.

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URL: https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/inequality-to-worsen-if-bangsamoro-literacy-infrastructure-not-improved

TITLE: 'Inequality to worsen if Bangsamoro literacy, infrastructure not improved'

AUTHOR: Sofia Tomacruz

DATE PUBLISHED: Sept. 6, 2018

KEY INFO: The Bangsamoro region in Mindanao faces widening inequality due to poor literacy rates and infrastructure, hindering its integration into the Fourth Industrial Revolution and potentially exacerbating extremism threats.

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'Inequality to worsen if Bangsamoro literacy, infrastructure not improved'

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MANILA, Philippines - Amid rapid advancements in technology, the government must not forget to address poor literacy and infrastructure in the B

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14 communities in Mindanao benefit from satellite technology                                                                                     RESEARCHED BY: JHIAN GERARD CORNEJO

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URL: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/14-communities-in-mindanao-benefit-from-satellite-technology

TITLE: 14 communities in Mindanao benefit from satellite technology

AUTHOR: Sunnexdesk

DATE PUBLISHED: Apr 21, 2023

KEY INFO: In remote rural areas in Mindanao lacking online access, satellites are bridging the digital gap, connecting communities and schools for education, even during the pandemic.

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14 communities in Mindanao benefit from satellite technology

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AN astrophysicist from the Ateneo de Davao University (Addu) said there are currently 14 communities scattered across the Mindanao region that have been connect

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LiteHaus International                                                                        RESEARCHED BY: JHIAN GERARD CORNEJO

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URL: https://www.facebook.com/100064868077692/posts/637215678450696/?

TITLE: LiteHaus International Sorsogon Project

AUTHOR: LiteHaus International (Facebook Page)

DATE: May 19, 2023

KEY INFO: LiteHaus International, together with Energy Development Corporation, scoped 22 schools near Sorsogon for their second project, aiming to bridge the digital gap and lack of access to online spaces in schools, empowering education for students across the Philippines.