WE need broadband in the Philippines. Cyber-Ed is simply abstract for a country who can’t even fulfill its constitutional duty to educate all citizens.
But my question is? Why pay a hefty fee to the Chinese when our own engineers and scientists can solve the problem of connectivity. All they need is a budget. Why spend billions for the Chinese when a hundred million would suffice? A billion spent on research and development within the Philippines itself will give us a return several thousand times that.
Even if the research fails in the end we could always get something out of it, precious knowledge that we will never get by outsourcing projects. In short, I don’t trust politicians and high-powered wheelers and dealers. In my opinion, they make a potentially strong country weak and a potentially rich country poor.
But I trust our engineers and scientists. This is where I want my taxes to go, to Filipino researchers and innovators, not to cheating politicians and rich boys with comb overs. This is my money, our money, not their money.
– Brian Brotarlo, Iloilo City, Philippines (via e-mail)
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September 27th, 2007 at 9:30 am
A very good, sound and intelligent perception Brian. We must develop the most important neglected resource in the Philippines, native manpower brainpower.
September 27th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Information, communications, and technology synergy or ICT development is not one of the flagship projects of GMA that’s why no local innovations on this front is pursued. Pinoy engineers and scientists are being left out on this.
It’s no wonder that the brain drain or exodus of our scientists and engineers are rampant.
There is simply no opportunity for them in this country.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Do the Philippines really need the broadband? A service which is only for the government, not the taxpaying people? A service where sensitive data would be practically open to anyone?
AndCyberEd, how useful can it be as long as exactly those schools who would need some additional sources mostly have not even the needed facilities, often not even electricity, and are far from any technical services in case of problems that unavoidably will occur?
Much better spend that big money for real improvements on schools and on teaching the teachers out of their oldfashioned knowledge.
Who will provide fast maintenance and repair services to tenthousands of schools? Cyber teaching is useless if interrupted because of no technicians and spareparts are available immediately.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
To reiterate my challenge to all new senators and other gov’t officials. First they need to amend the law on the SALARIES of gov’t officials for them to do away with corruption. Also as lawmakers, legislators, why should they are the ones holding the budget of countryside development? The budget must be given to those who are the implementors of the project ! Kaya lang pag ginawa yan baka wala na ring magsesenador or magcocongressman ? ano kaya?
Those who cried from transparency before where are they now ? Sana makaabot ito sa kinauukulan ! At least Madame Miriam Santiago was honest in divulging the millions the senators are receiving as their allowance and for their projects?? Tingnan mo bakit malaki ang allowances kaysa masyadong pinaliit na basic pay ? Does it has something to do with the tax ? NBN, its clear those involved that should not be involved in things like this are just after the money that they can get, period ! To reiterate the gov’t had spent already for dotc-telof, but check it out, how telof is doing now a days and you’ll find out that its becoming irrelevant again !