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Since
the advent of the Internet, governments around the world
have crafted policies and created institutions to
facilitate the development and growth of information and
communications technology (ICT).
Several
countries with successful ICT policies have adopted and
pursued four main strategies: 1) expand Internet access
and awareness; 2) introduce and improve education in ICT;
3) administer e-governance; and 4) spur innovation
through policies, proper industry regulation and
incentives.
These
successful countries have different and varying
developmental approaches.
For
example, Germany has an interministerial agency handling
information technology (IT) policies, and other
countries have IT agencies functioning under
departments, as in the case of Spain.
However,
many governments have established one central
coordinating body for IT administration, directly
answerable to the chief executive. France’s Agence pour
le Développement de l’Administration Electroinique,
Italy’s Department for Innovation and Technologies and
Portugal’s Unidade de Missao, Inovaçao e Conhecimiento
are some examples.
The
Department for Innovation and Technologies in Italy, in
particular, coordinates ICT policies to develop ICT,
facilitates e-governance and fosters IT and digital
awareness and literacy.
The
institutional setup in the Philippines is akin to
Spain’s, where ICT-related government functions are
administered through various agencies under a
department. In Spain, it was under the Ministry of
Public Administration, while in the Philippines, under
the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
The
DOTC’s jurisdictional and administrative functions,
however, can no longer effectively adapt to the rapid
changes in technologies in ICT.
The ICT
sector is one of our economy’s growth drivers. By 2010,
it is projected to earn $11 billion and employ 900,000
people.
Increased competition from neighboring countries,
however, could thwart this stellar forecast. Already,
Singapore and Malaysia have launched their own
respective strategies to make their business environment
conducive to ICT.
In 1996,
Malaysia launched its Multimedia Super Corridor, an ICT
initiative that has attracted more ICT companies to
invest there. In 1999, Singapore formed its Infocomm
Development Authority to implement its 10-year ICT
master plan, the Intelligent Nation 2015.
The
Philippines badly needs a coherent, long-term strategy
of its own, and establishing a Department of ICT (DICT)
would facilitate the undertaking. The DICT would focus
government resources on ensuring universal access and
literacy, promoting and expanding the use of emerging
ICT technologies and fostering a strong and effective
regulatory system for ICT business—three crucial
elements to an ICT strategy.
The
Senate, through its Committee on Science and Technology,
which I chair, has approved the establishment of a DICT,
while the House has recently passed a similar bill on
second reading. When Congress resumes in late July, it
will likely enact the proposed law.
E-mail: edgardo_angara@hotmail.com. Web site:
www.edangara.com. |
