Subject: IT for government in the Philippines (RPWEB)
Dear Net Friends:
The long, long wait is finally over. President Fidel V. Ramos has
finally signed Administrative Order 332 "(d)irecting all govern-
ment agencies and instrumentalities including local government
units to undertake electronic interconnection through the Inter-
net to be known as the RPWEB."
Administrative Order 332 supports House of Representatives Reso-
lution 890 principally authored by the undersigned.
RPWEB is believed to be the most significant and concrete govern-
ment measure so far in the area of Philippine information tech-
nology. In the long term, RPWEB will lead to the interlinking of
over 12,000 government offices and schools through the Internet
and bring forth the beginning of the Philippine information
society.
Under the RPWEB strategy, the private sector are encouraged to
set up network access points (naps) or Internet exchanges. ISPs
desiring to service government offices may interconnect to such
naps/Internet exchanges.
The full texts of Administrative Order 332 and House Resolution
890 are indicated below.
Respectfully,
Congressman Leandro B. Verceles Jr.
Member of the House of Representatives
lbv@pdx.rpnet.com
verceleshrep@pdx.rpnet.com
Thus:
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MALACANANG
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 332
DIRECTING ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES INCLUDING
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO UNDERTAKE ELECTRONIC INTERCONNECTION
THROUGH THE INTERNET TO BE KNOWN AS THE RPWEB
WHEREAS, the objective of the National Information and Technology
Plan (NITP 2000) is to disseminate Information Technology in our
society, giving priority to connecting the Philippines to the
Global Information Infrastructure (GII), pursuant to our
strategic vision of "Philippines 2000" and "pole vaulting" into
the 21st century;
WHEREAS, there is a need to immediately set in place a viable and
cost effective communication and information exchange system for
greater speed and efficiency in intergovernmental communications
and transactions, at the same time ensuring wider and faster
access to government information and services among government
agencies and the public;
WHEREAS, the National Information Technology Council (NITC) has
recommended the adoption of the RPWEB while the House of Repre-
sentatives has passed House Resolution No. 890 seeking the inter-
connection of government agencies and instrumentalities, includ-
ing government owned and controlled corporations, state universi-
ties and colleges and public schools through the Internet by
connecting with any of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
throughout the country;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of
the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do
hereby order:
SECTION 1. Interconnection in the Government - All government
departments, agencies, bureaus and instrumentalities and as
practicable down to the division level, including field offices,
government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities
and colleges, public schools and local government units shall
interconnect using the Internet, through any ISP. This virtual
interconnection shall be known as the RPWEB which shall be the
precursor to the Philippine Information Infrastructure (PII).
This Order shall be implemented in the following phases:
PHASE 1: All Cabinet Members down to the Assistant Secretary
levels, including all regional field offices and other offices
outside of main office First Year 1997
SUCCEEDING PHASES: Bureau Chief down to the Division level
Second Year 1998 onwards
Government offices shall connect to the Internet as soon as
possible. This phasing shall not inhibit other government of-
fices to connect earlier as the circumstances would warrant
especially government offices physically separated from the main
offices, provided such connection is part of its information
technology system plan/program.
SEC. 2. Monitoring of Utilization of Budget for Interconnection
- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall monitor the
utilization of the existing appropriations and savings of govern-
ment agencies and instrumentalities pertaining to Internet con-
nection. For the speedy acquisition of hardware, software data
modems, telephone dial-up lines, leased/dedicated lines and local
area networks necessary for the Internet connections, DBM shall
no longer require government offices to submit individual re-
quests for authority for the purpose, out of the above mentioned
existing appropriations and savings.
SEC. 3. Implementing Agency - The Department of Transportation
and Communications, through the National Telecommunications
Commission (NTC), shall undertake the following to facilitate the
establishment of the RPWEB:
a. Ensure that the ISPs servicing government offices and the
academe are interconnected with each other for purposes of
local data transmission via the Internet and through network
access points which should also be connected to each other
at no cost to the government;
b. Ensure that the telecommunications carriers give priority,
as may be necessary, to the telephone dial-up lines,
leased/dedicated lines and trunking facility requirements of
the ISPs;
c. Ensure the completion of telecommunication facilities pro-
grammed for 1998 under the Service Area Scheme by requiring
all telecommunication carriers to fast-track the implementa-
tion of their telephone roll-out programs, especially in the
regions/provinces, as provided for in EO 109; and
d. Study the possibility of reducing or maintaining at minimal
levels the tariff rates on international and local
leased/dedicated lines to ensure greater affordability of
these services, as well as other measures that will encour-
age the wider use of and access to the Internet.
SEC. 4. Project Implementation Monitoring. - The National Infor-
mation Technology Council shall monitor and evaluate the imple-
mentation after six (6) months to ensure that the objectives of
this order are being attained and to make the necessary recommen-
dations to improve its implementation.
The NITC, through the National Computer Center and in coordina-
tion with DBM and DOTC/NTC, shall issue such rules, regulations,
circulars and other issuances as may be necessary to ensure the
effective implementation of the provisions of this Administrative
Order. The NITC shall also submit regular quarterly reports on
the status of implementation of the RPWEB to the Office of the
President.
SEC. 5. Source of Funds. - The funds necessary to undertake
electronic interconnection through the Internet, known as RPWEB,
shall be charged against the existing appropriations and savings
of the respective government departments, agencies and instrumen-
talities. Henceforth, all government departments, agencies,
bureaus and instrumentalities shall set aside a minimum amount to
cover the implementation and maintenance costs of Internet con-
nection out of their appropriations in the annual general appro-
priations act and shall submit to DBM semestral reports on the
amounts utilized for the RPWEB.
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All issuances, orders and regula-
tions or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any of the
provisions of this administrative order are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.
SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Administrative Order shall take
effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 7th day of November in the year
of our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Seven.
(SDG) FIDEL V. RAMOS
By the President:
(SDG) RUBEN D. TORRES Executive Secretary
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
TENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
House Resolution No. 890
Introduced by Leandro B. Verceles Jr.
RESOLUTION URGING THE ADOPTION OF THE RPWEB STRATEGY TO ELECTRON-
ICALLY LINK UP VIA THE INTERNET THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZA-
TION
Whereas, there is a need to electronically link up the entire
government organization to improve efficiency, effectiveness and
transparency of the bureaucracy.
Whereas, this can be accomplished by adopting the RPWEB strategy
which may also serve as the nucleus of the Philippine Informa-
tion Infrastructure (PII).
Whereas, RPWEB calls for the interconnection of the independent
networks of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country
to a local electronic hub called the internet exchange.
Whereas, the local ISPs through their organization, the Philip-
pine Internet Service Organization (PISO) fully support the
installation of the internet exchange which may also be main-
tained by the private sector thus relieving government of the
cost of operating it.
Whereas, other local entities have shown interest in also operat-
ing several internet exchanges.
Whereas, under RPWEB all government departments and agencies, all
bureaus, divisions and sections therein, regional and field
offices, government controlled corporations, and local government
units shall connect, as soon as practicable, to the Internet
through any of the local ISPs.
Whereas, under RPWEB government offices become mere subscribers
of independent but interconnected local ISPs, and which minimal
subscription costs of a few hundred pesos per office per month
can easily be absorbed by the officers' maintenance budgets.
Whereas, the cost of acquiring and maintaining a PC workstation,
software and subscription cost can easily be covered by the
expected savings to be generated by a government office in terms
of lesser long distance calls, fax transmissions and substantial-
ly reduced travel by its office personnel.
Whereas, Internet accessibility in rural areas will run parallel
to the rate of installation of telephone landlines under the
service area scheme of Executive Order 109.
Whereas, crucial to RPWEB is the availability to the ISPs of
telephone dial-up lines, leased lines and trunking facilities.
Whereas, to accelerate the momentum of RPWEB there is a need to
reduce the high costs and tariffs of international and local
leased lines largely due to regulation, most specially, the
continued application of the "destructive competition" principle
for said leased lines.
Whereas, the data modem is an important component of RPWEB, and
as such, there is a need to reclassify it from capital outlay to
MOOE, being a peripheral or a non-stand alone item, thus ensur-
ing minimal bureaucratic tape in its procurement.
Whereas, once RPWEB gains and the government organization begins
to get networked, private business will follow suit setting the
stage for leapfrog growth of the national economy under the
potent combination of information and technology.
Now, therefore, be it resolved as it is hereby resolved, that the
President be respectfully requested to issued after due consider-
ation the appropriate executive measure for the following:
1. To direct all government departments and agencies , bureaus,
all divisions and sections therein, regional and field
offices, government controlled corporations, and local
government units to acquire PC workstations, software and
modems to connect, as soon as practicable, to the Internet
through any of the local ISPs.
2. For the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to effect
the unrestricted and speedy acquisition of PC workstations,
software and modems by government offices from this existing
appropriations and savings.
3. For the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to
ensure that the ISPs servicing government offices are inter-
connected with each other through the internet exchange or a
local electronic hub of equivalent design or performance,
and if there are several internet exchanges, that all the
latter be interconnected with each other.
4. For the NTC to ensure that telecommunication carriers give
priority to the telephone dial-up, leased line and trunking
facility requirements of the ISPs.
5. For the NTC to consider deregulating international and local
lease lines and to reexamine the "destructive competition"
principle with the end in view of having the costs reduced.
Resolved finally, that the DBM and the Commission on Audit con-
sider the possible reclassification of data modem from capital
outlay to MOOE.
Adopted.
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Congratulations Philippines!
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All the very best,
Chito Kintanar
Visit CTS-Phlippines at: http://www.sequel.net/~ck/welcome.htm