Policies and Initiatives: the Philippine

Experience

Prepared by: Ms. Nelia R. De JesusChief, Technical Cooperation DivisionNational Council on Disability Affairs

Republic of the Philippines

PRESENTED BY: BEATRICE G. QUIMSONDepartment of Science and Technology

Information and Communications Technology Office

IT Policies and Initiatives: the Philippine Experience

• Government Information System : IT as a premier tool to ‘’BEAT THE ODDS’’ , but not ‘’inclusive’’

• 2003 – “Manila Design Recommendations and Declaration towards Accessible ICT”, became the cornerstone of CRPD Article 9

• 2004 training of 200 webmasters creating the Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG), commissioned as an online advocacy group

• 2007 -Joint NCDA-NCC Memo Circular requiring government agencies’ web accessibility, using set standards

“Nothing about us, without us” spurred leaders with disabilities as the conscience bloc, towards more ICT Policy breakthroughs:

• A(ward), R(ecognize) A(ccessible) W(ebsites)-ARAW (sun) incentivizing implementors

• UN-ESCAP’s Citation as among Asia Pacific Region’s best practices “APCD-NCDA Video “From Why to How:Accessible ICT in the

Philippines”, 2008• NCDA Board Resolutions 11, 12, 13, respectively a.) adopting

DAISY as standards for education/training materials for persons with disabilities, b) enjoins government agencies’ hiring of qualified PWD encoders’; and c) urging compliance of same on web accessibility

• P.D, 709. attached NCDA to the Office of the President, and appointed the National Computer Center to lead the SubCommittee on ICT

• Inclusion of disability in the “Philippine Digital Strategy” (2011-2016)

• Inclusion of ‘’Accessible Website Award in the prestigious Presidential Apolinario Mabini Awards (2011)

• Amendment of R.A. 1372 on intellectual property rights, allowing printing,reproduction /distribution of copyrighted materials exclusive for persons with visual/print disabilities (2012)

• Marking of “IT Month” with an ‘’IT Job and Skills Fair’’, job match, shows ICT as empowering tool and work excellence of persons with disabilities using ICT (2012-present)

Challenges and Next Steps :•SMART Advocacy•Dynamic ‘’Push and Pull’’ strategies•Amendment of Magna Carta to include Accessible ICT•Maximize IT to boost education,work, tourism opportunities & disaster control

Technology 4 Economic Development (Tech4ED)

By: Beatrice G. Quimson, eSociety – ICT Office

The ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2015 seeks to achieve:

“INCLUSIVEInvolving all the stakeholders in ASEAN – government, citizens, and businesses, developed and developing, rural and urban, young and old, as well as those with and without disabilities”

FO

UN

DATIO

N SUSTAINABLE MODEL

A “Franchise Model” for

Maintenance & Expansion

DELIVERY CHANNEL

Single Shared Portal for all

Government e-Programs w Monitoring,

Feedback and Analytics Engines

INFRASTRUCTURE

TVWS to Connect the Last

mile

PIL

LA

RS

GROWTH

EmpowerEntreprene

ur

SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

Economic Evolution

OPPORTUNITY

EnableEmploymen

t

SERVICEInnovateEducatio

n

Harnessing ICT to Empower and Transform SocietyCreating an INCLUSIVE, Integrated, & Equitable Countryside

42,000 Village Tech4ED Centers

Creating the eFILIPINO

eGovServe eEduSkills

eAssist mAgri

mMarketplace eAssess

The Tech4ED Services

Enabling Women, PWD, OFW, Seniors, Indigenous People, Teachers & Career Shifters with Special Content

e - A S S I S TO

BJEC

TIVE

S

*.Provide opportunities for

digital inclusion to marginalized communities

*Help teachers learn teaching

strategies using technology to develop 21st Century Skills

*Develop competencies relevant to a

particular Industry for

higher grade jobs (Career Shifters)

*Enable SMEs to use internet as a

tool for expansion

*Educate OFWs and their families on how to save,

invest, and spend money wisely.

COM

PON

ENTS

Business Life

Long Learners

Financial Literacy

ICT Literacy