Uses Constra|nts and Cpportun|t|es of IC1 |n Governance

Ins|ghts and Lessons from the I|e|d

W||he|m|na L Cabo Assoc|ate rofessor
and L|eanor L N|co|as Un|vers|ty Lxtens|on Spec|a||st
Nat|ona| co||ege of ub||c Adm|n|strat|on and Governance
Un|vers|ty of the h|||pp|nes


Introduct|on

1he sLudy ls a rapld assessmenL of Lhe exlsLence and uLlllzaLlon of lC1 ln Lhe edemocracy
envlronmenL of Lhe hlllpplnes Clven Lhe dlverse undersLandlng of whaL lC1 means Lhe sLudy
hopes Lo provlde a clearer perspecLlve of whaL llllplno eclLlzens boLh provlders and users of
lC1 mean by Lhe Lermlnology LhaL goes beyond compuLers and cellular phones whlch are used
as baslc devlses ln lC1 Llkewlse Lhe sLudy hopes Lo geL a perspecLlve of Lhe varlous operaLlons
or sofLwares and appllcaLlons LhaL permeaLes Lhe use of lC1 ln Lhe hlllpplnes

kesearch Methodo|ogy

1he sLudy seeks Lo deLermlne how eparLlclpaLlonls currenLly harnessed ln clLlzen Lo clLlzen
(C2C) and clLlzen Lo governmenL (C2C) engagemenLs ln Lhe governance processes 1he
procedure conslsLed of (1) focus group dlscusslon of resource people from selecL members of
Lhe AssoclaLlon of Schools of ublc AdmlnlsLraLlon ln Lhe hlllpplnes (ASA) and (2) purposlve
survey on lC1s uLlllzaLlon from key sLakeholders also from Lhe academe governmenL and nCCs
1he focus group dlscusslon explored Lhe varylng perspecLlves and nuances of oplnlons
regardlng lC1 uLlllzaLlon and consensus on eparLlclpaLlon 1hree focus group dlscusslons were
organlzed ln Luzon vlsayas and Mlndanao 1hese were conducLed ln Lhe Lhree hubs of Lhe
ASA Lxchanges ro[ecL 1) u naLlonal College of ubllc AdmlnlsLraLlon and Covernance
ulllman Cuezon ClLy wlLh 17 parLlclpanLs 2) WesL vlsayas SLaLe unlverslLy ln llollo ClLy wlLh
22 parLlclpanLs and 3) WesLern Mlndanao SLaLe unlverslLy wlLh 13 parLlclpanLs 1hose lnvlLed
Lo parLlclpaLe ln Lhe lCus came from Lhe ranks of Lhe clvll socleLy governmenL and academe ln
Lhe area
Meanwhlle Lhe sLudy's survey used a quesLlonnalre LhaL explored Lwo key areas (a) an
lndlcaLlve proflllng of lC1s ln Lerms of Lypes access usage and purposes for use of lC1 devlces
and (b) a probe lnLo Lhe effecLlveness of lC1s as eparLlclpaLlon Lools ln governance urposlve
sampllng was applled Lo Lhe ldenLlflcaLlon of respondenLs 1he respondenLs came from four (4)
memberschools of Lhe ASA 1hese schools were WesLern vlsayas SLaLe unlverslLy (WvSu)
WesLern Mlndanao SLaLe unlverslLy (WMSu) unlverslLy of Lhe SanLo 1omas (uS1) and naLlonal
College of ubllc AdmlnlsLraLlon and Covernance (nCACu) of Lhe unlverslLy of Lhe
hlllpplnes

1he survey had a LoLal of 213 respondenLs Slnce Lhe sLudy ls slmply a rapld assessmenL Lo geL
an ldea of Lhe use of lC1s for eparLlclpaLlon whlch ls essenLlally exploraLory ln naLure Lhe
sLaLlsLlcal Lools applled are baslcally descrlpLlve sLaLlsLlcs 1o a cerLaln exLenL crossLabulaLlon
was also uLlllzed as lL ls deemed necessary and approprlaLe

kesu|ts of Study's Iocus Group D|scuss|ons

1he lCu almed Lo obLaln lndepLh lnformaLlon on Lhe knowledge and experlence of Lhe nCC
and academlc communlLy members (Leachers and sLudenLs) uslng lC1 for parLlclpaLlon ln
governance ln Lhe hlllpplnes 1he flndlngs from Lhe lCu are dlscussedalong Lhe followlng key
Loplcs (a) 1ypes of lC1 used and Areas of Covernance (b) LffecLlveness of lC1 as Lool for
parLlclpaLlon and (c) Challenges and consLralnLs ln Lhe use of lC1 for parLlclpaLlon

1ypes of IC1 and Areas of Governance
lnformotionCne of Lhe ma[or uses of lC1 ln governance ldenLlfled ln Lhe lCu ls for lnformaLlon
ln parLlcular Lhe lnLerneL has been clLed as Lhe mosL common means by whlch lnformaLlon ls
accessed uaLa and lnformaLlon needed for research work was one of Lhe ma[or reasons for
accesslng Lhe lnLerneL Many Lypes of dlglLal conLenL llke LexLbased maLerlals plcLures and
vldeos can be downloaded from Lhe lnLerneL 1hls flndlng colncldes wlLh Lhe survey resulLs
where webslLe/webpage ls ldenLlfled as Lhe mosL common parLlclpaLlon Lool used by clLlzens
for geLLlng lnformaLlon on any Loplc
1he lCu parLlclpanLs clLed how governmenL agencles LhaL malnLaln a webslLe are able Lo
lnform Lhe publlc abouL Lhe klnds of program and servlces Lhey provlde SLudenLs wlLh research
asslgnmenLs abouL governmenL offlces and Lhelr pollcles and programsfound Lhls very useful
1he necesslLy of physlcally golng Lo speclflc governmenL agencles Lo geL lnformaLlon has been
reduced and can Lhus be subsequenLly converLed Lo savlngs ln Llme and LransporL fares

Among Lhe nCC parLlclpanLs lnLerneL ls a very useful and easy means for sharlng lnformaLlon
wlLh each oLher Lmalls soclal neLworklng and blogs are very popular medla for lnformaLlon
exchanges 1hls has also been found Lrue among sLudenLs and youLhs

mp/oymentlnformaLlon abouL [ob opporLunlLles ls also convenlenLly faclllLaLed ln Lhe
lnLerneL lL was noLed parLlcularly ln Lhe MeLro Manlla lCu LhaL Lhe governmenL acLlvely
promoLes employmenL ln lC1 such as 8Cs and call cenLers lL was menLloned for example
LhaL Lhe Commlsslon on lnformaLlon and CommunlcaLlon 1echnology has lnlLlaLed a
convergence of efforLs ln 8eglon 3 wlLh 8Cs Lo creaLe [ob opporLunlLles for Lhe youLhs
9/ic serviceslncreaslngly a number of publlc servlces provlded by governmenL can already
be avalled of Lhrough Lhe lnLerneL AppllcaLlon forms for speclflc servlces can be downloaded
and submlLLed onllne Cne of Lhese ls geLLlng a passporL arLlclpanLs shared LhaL lL ls no longer

necessary for Lhem Lo go Lo Lhe ueparLmenL of lorelgn Affalrs Lo apply for a passporL
AppllcaLlon can already be done Lhrough Lhe lnLerneL And wlLh Lhe use of speclal courler
passporL can be dellvered Lo one's resldence 1he same ls Lrue wlLh blrLh cerLlflcaLe
AppllcaLlon can also be done onllne and dellvery may be done Lhrough speclal courler
arrangemenLs
1he ablllLy of lC1 Lo provlde lnsLanL response mechanlsms has also been menLloned 1he lCu
respondenLs noLed LhaL moblle phones are popularly used by governmenL agencles Lo provlde
lnformaLlon Lo lLs speclflc cllenLs lor example some respondenLs polnLed ouL LhaL as CSlS
members Lhe agency noLlfles Lhem Lhrough LexL messages LhaL Lhelr yearly dlvldends are
already released 1he hlllpplne naLlonal ollce also has hoLllne moblle phone numbers LhaL
can be accessed for asslsLance or for reporLlng crlme or oLher lncldenLs CLher agencles LhaL
have been clLed LhaL provlde hoLllne cell phone numbers Lo Lhe publlc lnclude Lhe Ll188 and
Lhe L1C

Moblle phones are popularly used for LexL messages 8uL lf one wanLs Lo Lalk Lo someone aL Lhe
oLher end Lelephones remaln an lmporLanL communlcaLlon Lechnology alLernaLlve for qulck
response aL leasL cosL As a hoLllne connecLlon Lhe effecLlveness of Lhe Lool can only be
reallzed lf Lhere are people speclflcally asslgned Lo dlrecLly answer clLlzens' reporL complalnLs
or querles

Some governmenL Lo governmenL LransacLlons are also done onllne lor example a parLlclpanL
from Lhe local governmenL narraLed LhaL Lhey are uslng Lhe lnLerneL for submlLLlng reporLs Lo
Lhe 8ureau of lnLernal 8evenue and loan appllcaLlons Lo CovernmenL Servlce lnsurance SysLem
Cfflce memos and communlcaLlons are also clrculaLed wldely when uploaded ln Lhelr webslLe

9o/icy odvococyCne of Lhe mosL promlslng uses of lnLerneL LhaL emerged ln Lhe lCu ls ln Lhe
area of pollcy advocacy 1here ls much popularlLy ln Lhe use of onllne peLlLlon/advocacy by clvll
socleLy groups nCCs ln Lhe souLh parLlcularly Lhe Moro nCCs have used onllne peLlLlon ln
advocaLlng peace process and cessaLlon of hosLlllLles uslng Lhls medlum has enabled Lhe group
Lo LargeL a blgger audlence 1he onllne peLlLlon ls able Lo exLend lLs reach noL only locally buL Lo
lnLernaLlonal groups as well As shared by an nCC represenLlng Lhe Moro people Lhelr onllne
peLlLlon has reached Lhe Luropean Commlsslon and has lnLeresLed Lhe Commlsslon enough for
lL Lo send a represenLaLlve Lo observe Lhe peace process 1hey Lhlnk LhaL lnLernaLlonal
parLlclpaLlon even Lhrough observaLlon alone can help ln pushlng for Lhelr advocacy and
conLrlbuLe ln flndlng soluLlon Lo Lhe peace lssue
lnd roisinqSoclal neLworklng and blogs have also served as mechanlsm for generaLlng
flnanclal conLrlbuLlons ln supporL of local pro[ecLs and causes 1hls ls Lhe experlence shared by
Lhe nCC from Mlndanao A Lyphoon LhaL vlslLed Lhe place had desLroyed Lhe local 'madrasa'
buL Lhe local communlLy dld noL have funds Lo rebulld lL 1he nCC launched a onepeso fund
ralslng campalgn ln Lhe lnLerneL 8y [usL posLlng lL ln Lhe lnLerneL Lhe fund campalgn qulckly
clrculaLed ln Lhe soclal neLwork and blogs ln [usL Lwo weeks Lhe group was able Lo generaLe an
amazlng hp 20000000

qric/trelC1 has also been applled ln agrlculLure 1he WesL vlsayas SLaLe unlverslLy ln llollo
ClLy has lmplemenLed an agrlculLural pro[ecL wlLh WesL vlsayas AgrlculLure 8esources and
8esearch ConsorLlum wlLh fundlng from CA88u ln Los 8anos and ln parLnershlp wlLh a prlvaLe
lnLerneL servlce provlder 1he pro[ecL deployed lC1 equlpmenL and lnLerneL connecLlon Lo
selecLed local governmenL unlLs for Lhe purpose of glvlng farmers a faclllLy LhaL Lhey can use Lo
access lnformaLlon and experL advlce on agrlculLure larmers also used Lhe cell phones Lo LexL
querles Lo agrlculLural experLs
dcotion1he use lC1 ln educaLlon has repeaLedly been menLloned Some educaLors ln Lhe
lCu shared LhaL Lhe ueparLmenL of LducaLlon and Commlsslon on lnformaLlon and
CommunlcaLlon 1echnology have underLaken a [olnL program Lo enhance elemenLary and hlgh
school educaLlon uslng lC1 1he program called 'lSchool' almed Lo equlp publlc hlgh school
Leachers and sLudenLs wlLh lC1 llLeracy skllls and provlde Lhem access Lo relevanL dlglLal
conLenL and appllcaLlons ln educaLlon Lo enhance learnlng
1he llollo parLlclpanLs from Lhe academe have also polnLed ouL LhaL Lhe faculLles are
lncreaslngly uslng compuLers and lnLerneL for Leachlng Some faculLy members upload Lhelr
lecLures ln Lhe lnLerneL so LhaL Lhelr sLudenLs ln saLelllLe campuses or Lhose enrolled ln Lhe
dlsLance learnlng mode can download and work on Lhem

Some academlcs noLed LhaL wlLh Lhe advancemenL of lC1 sLudenLs have become more
asserLlve ln demandlng LhaL Lhelr school use lC1 appllcaLlons ln procedures such as sub[ecL
enrolmenL and LulLlon fee paymenLs And as sLudenLs lncreaslngly use Lhelr own lapLops ln
schools Lhey have also been vocal abouL asklng Lhelr school admlnlsLraLlon Lo provlde 'wlfl'
connecLlons ln Lhe campus

isoster kisk MonoqementA parLlclpanL from llollo ClLy recounLed how Lhe clLy governmenL ls
already uslng lC1 ln Lhe conducL of flood hazard and vulnerablllLy mapplng of Lhe llollo rlver
sysLem as parL of lLs dlsasLer rlsk reducLlon and managemenL program lloodlng ls a serlous
lssue ln Lhe clLy and Lhe provlnce lL may be recalled LhaL Lhe clLy had experlenced devasLaLlon
and severe flashfloodlng spawned by desLrucLlve sLorm lrank ln !une 2008 ln Lhe afLermaLh of
Lhls Lragedy lL was also menLloned ln Lhe lCu LhaL some prlvaLe lndlvlduals have lnlLlaLed
puLLlng up 3u map of Lhe clLy ln Lhe lnLerneL Lo help lnform and make Lhe publlc aware of Lhe
clLy's vulnerable areas
Some lCu parLlclpanLs llkewlse observed LhaL lC1 ls also belng usedln oLher areas of dlsasLer
rlsk managemenL such as volcano acLlvlLy mapplng ln Albay and applylng ClS ln Culnsaugon
LeyLe 1he parLlclpanLs have also noLed LhaL Lhe governmenL has lnLroduced hlgh resoluLlon
saLelllLe lmaglng and phoLos of MeLro Manlla ln Lhe afLermaLh of Cndoy 1he parLlclpanLs
expressed LhaL Lhere are already exlsLlng areal maps of many clLles ln Lhe counLry avallable ln
Lhe lnLerneL 1hese are lnformaLlon LhaL can make clLlzens aware of Lhe vulnerablllLy of Lhelr
areas Lo dlfferenL LhreaLs of dlsasLers especlally LhaL of floodlng and soll eroslon

oreness ond oppreciotion of /oco/ environs ond c/tre1he palpable beneflLs of lC1
appllcaLlons ln buslness and governmenL processes medla and enLerLalnmenL lndusLry and prlvaLe

lndlvldual uses are already esLabllshed and cannoL be overemphaslzed 1here ls one lnLeresLlng
conLrlbuLlon of lC1 LhaL may perhaps escape recognlLlon slmply because lL ls noL Loo obvlous and vlslble
1hls relaLes Lo how awareness and lnLeresL ln one's local envlrons and happenlngs can be sLlmulaLed
and medlaLed by Lhe lnLerneL Lhrough blogs and soclal neLworks
Cne parLlclpanL ln Lhe llollo ClLy lCu for example clLed LhaL hls encounLer of Lhe clLy plcLures
LhaL were posLed ln Lhe blogs encouraged hlm Lo acLually vlslL and explore Lhe place and laLer
posL and share hls own LhoughLs and reacLlons abouL whaL he saw arLlclpaLlon ln Lhe
exchanges of LhoughLs and ldeas abouL Lhe golngson ln Lhelr clLy has been an amazlng
experlence for Lhe person

lL can be drawn from Lhe above experlence LhaL lnLerneL blogs can creaLe and offer Lhe
opporLunlLles for creaLlng awareness and appreclaLlon of local culLure as well as encourage
arLlculaLlon and parLlclpaLlon ln Lhe exchange of ldeas and personal muslngs and reflecLlons
abouL whaL ls golng on ln Lhe communlLy

tomoted e/ectionsollLlcal parLlclpaLlon Lhrough auLomaLed elecLlons has also been
menLloned by parLlclpanLs as one governance area where lC1 ls applled 1hls ls ln reference Lo
Lhe upcomlng 2010 auLomaLed elecLlons and Lhe plloL lmplemenLaLlon of a fully auLomaLed
elecLlon sysLem ln Lhe AuLonomous 8eglon of Musllm Mlndanao ln 2008 8uL lL has also been
polnLed ouL LhaL elecLlon auLomaLlon does noL necessarlly sLamp ouL posslble corrupLlonsLhaL
may be assoclaLed wlLh elecLlons

Survey kesu|ts
1he survey provldes an lndlcaLlve proflllng of lC1 users by Lypes and usage of lC1 1he flndlngs
and analysls of Lhe survey ls dlvlded lnLo Lhree parLs Lhe flrsL parL ls Lhe 8espondenLs' roflle
Lhe second parL ls Lhe lC1 Lypes and usage and Lhe lasL parL presenLs Lhe assessmenL of
effecLlveness of lC1s as epottlclpotloo Lools ln governance

kespondents' rof||e
1he ma[orlLy of Lhe respondenLs came from Lhe comblned unCAC and uS1 maklng up 6o
percenL of Lhe 213 respondenLs Around 26 percenL were from Lhe WesLern Mlndanao SLaLe
unlverslLy and Lhe remalnlng 13 percenL were from Lhe WesLern vlsayas SLaLe unlverslLy
1he respondenLs were relaLlvely young AlmosL 70 percenL of respondenLs are wlLhln Lhe age
range of less Lhan 21 Lo 37 years A slgnlflcanL number of respondenLs are ln Lhe mlddle range
age of 3833 comprlslng almosL 22 percenL Meanwhlle a few who are ln Lhelr senlor age made
up around flve percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs
1he respondenLs were mosLly female (36) slngle (39) and afflllaLed wlLh organlzaLlons
(73) parLlcularly governmenL organlzaLlons (44) sLudenL organlzaLlons (30) and non
governmenL organlzaLlons (7)

ln Lerms of hlghesL educaLlonal aLLalnmenL ma[orlLy of Lhe respondenLs are college graduaLes
(37) 1here were slgnlflcanL number of respondenLs wlLh MA unlLs and MA degree 8 percenL
and 17 percenL respecLlvely wlLh a LoLal of 23 percenL for Lhls group Meanwhlle 27 percenL
of Lhe respondenLs are college undergraduaLes
8espondenLs were spread among varlous occupaLlonal/professlonal groups A slzeable number
of Lhem were sLudenLs (19) whlle some were ln Lhe Leachlng professlon (18) 1hose worklng
ln Lhe governmenL comprlsed 17 percenL 1he remalnlng 26 percenL were from varlous
professlons such as law lnformaLlon Lechnology human resources managemenL healLh
managemenL pollce and securlLy managemenL and nongovernmenL developmenL work

IC1 1ypes and Usage

8espondenLs were asked abouL Lhe mosL commonly used lC1 devlces 1hese lncluded Lhe
Lelephone radlo Lelevlslon moblle phone and lnLerneL Cf Lhese moblle phone has been
everyone's everyday companlon maklng lL Lhe mosL used devlce by almosL all of Lhe
respondenLs (97) lnLerneL and 1elevlslon seem Lo be of equal sLandlng as an everyday devlce
1elevlslon came ln second (84) and lnLerneL was very close Lhlrd (81) 8adlo Lelephone and
lnLerneL were used once a week by aL mosL 13 percenL Lo 19 percenL of Lhe respondenLs ln
Lerms of mean usage moblle phone ls flrsL wlLh 113 followed by Lelevlslon (128) lnLerneL
(132) Lhen Lelephone (172) and Lhe lasL ls radlo (182)
Access Lo lnLerneL ls made posslble largely Lhrough lnLerneL connecLlon ln Lhe homes for Lhree
ouL of four respondenLs (77) Moreover a llLLle more Lhan half of Lhe respondenLs accessed
Lhe lnLerneL ln Lhelr offlces schools and ln lnLerneL cafes
Message LexLlng more Lhan volce calls ls Lhe moblle phone's feaLure mosL commonly used by
Lhe respondenLs ln Lerms of Lhe manner of use Lhe lnLerneL was largely used for
webslLe/webpage search (96) CLher grounds for uslng Lhe lnLerneL LhaL were mosL frequenLly
menLloned by ma[orlLy of Lhe respondenLs were for onllne communlcaLlon (83) for
downloadlng/unloadlng (84) of mosLly lnformaLlon (83) for readlng news (82) for soclal
neLworklng (79) for playlng games (33) and for glvlng personal
commenLs/feedback/reacLlons (32) 1hese numbers lndlcaLe LhaL soclal neLworklng ls
lncreaslngly becomlng a popular acLlvlLy ln lnLerneL usage almosL close Lo onllne
communlcaLlon downloadlng/unloadlng lnformaLlon and readlng news lf one would Lhlnk
abouL lL people may communlcaLe download/upload lnformaLlon and read news and currenL
evenLs ln Lhe soclal neLworklng slLes
Cenerally Lhe respondenLs percelved lC1s as an effecLlve Lool for governance (93) A large
number of respondenLs lndlcaLed LhaL pollcy maklng and servlce dellvery (68) Laken
collecLlvely raLher Lhan as separaLe governance areas would beneflL mosL from lC1s ollcy
maklng ls operaLlonally deflned as communlcaLlng wlLh pollLlclans and pollcy makers on cerLaln
lssues ln Lhe communlLy whlle servlce dellvery ls descrlbed as LransacLlng wlLh governmenL
Lhrough onllne servlces Moreover almosL equal number of respondenLs polnLed Lo servlce

dellvery (66) as one dlsLlncL governance area LhaL would beneflL Lhe mosL from lC1s ln
essence Lhe respondenLs percelve servlce dellvery as a very lmporLanL governance area where
lC1s can be used as an effecLlve Lool
1he hlllpplne CommunlLy eCenLer (CeC) ls yeL Lo make lLs presence known as only a Lhlrd of
Lhe LoLal number of respondenLs lndlcaLed accesslng Lhe CeCs (33) 1he slzeable number of
respondenLs dld noL access Lhe CeCs (46) Cf Lhose who were able Lo access Lhe CeCs Lhe
respondenLs' reasons for accesslng were malnly dlrecLed aL lnqulrles on whaL Lhe CeCs ls abouL
(34) 1he hlllpplne CeCs were parL of Lhe overall lC1 framework of Lhe counLry LhaL alms Lo
glve communlLles access neLwork and volce" ln governance 1hls framework deflnes access
as Lhe promoLlon of exchange of relevanL knowledge and lnformaLlon for equal opporLunlLles
neLworklng as faclllLaLlon of effecLlve communlcaLlon and cooperaLlon among people and
across organlzaLlons and volce as faclllLaLlon of broad parLlclpaLlon ln democraLlc processes
good governance culLural dlverslLy and localconLenL 1he hlllpplne CeCs are envlsloned Lo be
Lhe faclllLy LhaL would provlde communlLles wlLh a means of communlcaLlon and access Lo
lnformaLlon LhaL would faclllLaLe collaboraLlon among lndlvlduals groups and communlLles and
promoLe lnformed and lnLenslve parLlclpaLlon ln governance economlc as well as soclal
developmenL
A llLLle over half of Lhe respondenLs accessed governmenL webslLes (33) Conslderlng LhaL 44
percenL of respondenLs are afflllaLed wlLh Lhe governmenL Lhls flgure lndlcaLes LhaL access of
governmenL webslLes ls relaLlvely low lL was noLed however LhaL Lhere was a slgnlflcanL
number of respondenLs who dld noL answer Lhls quesLlon on access of governmenL webslLes
(40) lnqulry lnLo Lhe frequency of access ln Lhe lasL 12 monLhs revealed LhaL a number of
Lhem accessed Lhese webslLes once a week (23) and fewer sLlll lndlcaLed once a monLh (12)
Cnly abouL 10 percenL accessed governmenL webslLes dally ln Lhe lasL 12 monLhs 1he Lop
reasons for access clLed by ma[orlLy were research on whaL Lhe agency ls abouL (88)
download lnformaLlon maLerlals (83) read news (74) and avallmenL of onllne servlces
(33)
Cn Lhe problems normally encounLered ln Lhe use of lC1s Lhe mean scores based on
respondenLs' ranklngs showed lack or poor lnLerneL connecLlon as Lhe worsL problem wlLh
217 followed by expenslve access Lo lC1 wlLh 282 Lhen lack of avallable lC1 devlce Lo use
compuLer wlLh 298 and lasLly lack of knowhow on Lhe use of lC1s parLlcularly compuLers
wlLh 330
Lmall WebslLes news and Soclal neLworklng comprlsed Lhe eparLlclpaLlon Lools LhaL were
uLlllzed mosL by Lhe respondenLs for governance WebslLe browslng sLood ouL as Lhe mosL
frequenLly used ln all aspecLs of Lhe governance areas LhaL were ldenLlfled from accesslng
lnformaLlon accesslng/Lracklng servlce dellvery monlLorlng governmenL performance
lnfluenclng declslon maklng advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues sharlng experlences bulldlng
capablllLles Lo referrlng/llnklng Lo proper auLhorlLles
Lxamlnlng Lhe use of lC1s as eparLlclpaLlon Lools ln each governance area Lhe followlng are Lhe
flndlngs on Lhe Lop four lC1s

W ln accesslng lnformaLlon webslLe emall news and soclal neLworklng are Lhe
four lC1s mosL frequency used
W lor accesslng /Lracklng servlce dellvery webslLe emall news and SMS
W lor monlLorlng governmenL performance news webslLe emall and soclal
neLworklng
W lor lnfluenclng declslon maklng news webslLe emall and soclal neLworklng
W lor advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues emall webslLe news and soclal neLworklng
W lor sharlng experlences emall soclal neLworklng sms and webslLe
W lor bulldlng capaclLles emall webslLe soclal neLworks and SMS and
W lor referrlng/llnklng Lo proper auLhorlLles/experLs webslLe emall news and
SMS
1he followlng sLaLlsLlcal resulLs were ldenLlfled ln relaLlon Lo Lhe varlous eparLlclpaLlon
sLraLegles uLlllzed by Lhe respondenLs
1 WebslLe browslng/ surflng ls used by 28 Lo 77 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs mosL
frequenLly for accesslng lnformaLlon monlLorlng governmenL performance
referrlng/llnklng Lo proper auLhorlLles and accesslng/Lracklng servlce dellvery
2 Lmall ls used by 29 Lo 68 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs largely for accesslng
lnformaLlon sharlng experlences advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues and referrlng/llnklng
Lo proper auLhorlLles
3 news has a share of 21 Lo 67 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs lndlcaLlng LhaL Lhey
used Lhls Lool for accesslng lnformaLlon monlLorlng governmenL performance
advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues and lnfluenclng declslon maklng
4 Soclal neLworklng ls used by 12 Lo 49 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs largely for
accesslng lnformaLlon sharlng experlences advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues and
lnfluenclng declslon maklng
3 SMS ls used ln egovernance areas by a percenLage of respondenLs ranglng from 19
Lo 44 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs and ls mosL uLlllzed by Lhls group ln accesslng
lnformaLlon (43) and ln sharlng experlences (36)
6 ChaL ls used by 9 Lo 29 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs and Lo a large exLenL for
accesslng lnformaLlon sharlng experlences advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues and
lnfluenclng declslon maklng
7 ulscusslon boards are used by 14 Lo 28 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs Lo a large
exLenL for accesslng lnformaLlon advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues sharlng experlences
and bulldlng capablllLles

8 newsgroup ls used by 3 Lo 23 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs for accesslng

lnformaLlon monlLorlng governmenL performance lnfluenclng declslon maklng/
advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues and referrlng/llnklng Lo proper auLhorlLles
9 Cnllne survey ls used by 12 Lo 22 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs aL mosL for
accesslng lnformaLlon advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues monlLorlng governmenL
performance and lnfluenclng declslon maklng as well as bulldlng capablllLles
108log ls used by 9 Lo 21 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs for sharlng experlences
advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues accesslng lnformaLlon and monlLorlng governmenL
performance
11Cnllne peLlLlon ls used by 9 Lo 17 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs for advocaLlng for
cerLaln lssues accesslng lnformaLlon lnfluenclng declslon maklng and sharlng
experlences
12vldeo conferenclng ls used by 4 Lo 13 percenL of Lhe LoLal respondenLs for accesslng
lnformaLlon sharlng experlences advocaLlng for cerLaln lssues and lnfluenclng
declslon maklng

Conc|us|on and kecommendat|on

1he lCu segmenL of Lhe assessmenL brlngs Lo fore Lhe varlous poLenLlals and posslblllLles of e
parLlclpaLlon ln Lhe hlllpplnes uesplLe Lhe challenges of resources and albelL Lhe 'nlngascugon'
aLLlLude Lhe llllplnos are noL deLerred ln concelvlng new posslblllLles for lC1 appllcaLlon for
governance ockeLs of eparLlclpaLlon lnlLlaLlves shared by parLlclpanLs of Lhe lCu show
promlslng schemes by whlch lC1 may be uLlllzed for successful egovernance boLh aL Lhe
naLlonal and local level 1he problems of susLalnablllLy and proper coordlnaLlon shown by
prevlous sLudles have been valldaLed by Lhe lCu as a recurrlng lssue ln many eparLlclpaLlon
lnlLlaLlves

1he survey componenLprovlded flgures and descrlpLlve sLaLlsLlcs Lo Lhe usage and vlablllLy of e
parLlclpaLlon ln governance lL has also corroboraLed Lhe ouLpuL of Lhe lCu as regards Lhe
relaLlvely hlgh undersLandlng of Lhe llllplnos ln Lhe dlfferenL ways by whlch lC1 may be uLlllzed
for governance Conslderlng LhaL a blg porLlon of Lhe hlllpplne populaLlon are young and LhaL
lC1 ls generally of lnLeresL Lo young people Lhe counLry has a loL of poLenLlals as regards Lhe
faclllLaLlon of lC1 Lo newer Lrends ln parLlclpaLlve governance WhaL ls probably mosL lmporLanL
ls Lhe avallablllLy of mechanlsm and resources LhaL would make lC1 a more permanenL flxLure
raLher Lhan slmply an alLernaLlve LhaL people could uLlllze ln Lhelr deallngs and exchanges wlLh
oLher people and Lhe governmenL

lor lLs recommendaLlons Lhe sLudy proposes Lhe followlng polnLs

1he hlllpplne governmenL reallzes Lhe slgnlflcance of lC1 as a modallLy and has acLually
lmplemenLed several lnlLlaLlves ln harnesslng lLs poLenLlals for governance and
developmenL 1here remalns however Lhe necesslLy Lo pursue more vlgorously concreLe
pollcles and susLalned operaLlonal supporL LhaL would sLeer dlrecLlon of concerLed l1C
efforLs Lowards caLchlng up wlLh developmenL Lrends ln varlous parLs of Lhe world and Lhus
make lC1 as one of Lhe prlorlLy concerns ln Lhe governmenL's developmenL plan and
sLraLegles

A more coheslve and effecLlve sLrucLure ln charge of lC1 efforLs should be esLabllshed by
Lhe governmenL Pence Lhe governmenL should serlously conslder Lhe creaLlon of a
ueparLmenL of lnformaLlon and CommunlcaLlon 1echnology LhaL could provlde sLronger
and clearer pollcy and program dlrecLlon Lo Lhe dlverslLy of lC1 mechanlsms ln governance
1he lCu and Lhe survey resulLs polnL Lo an lncreased awareness on lC1s as provldlng easy
access Lo lnformaLlon Powever Lhere ls sLlll much Lo be done ln uslng lC1 for pollcy
advocacy monlLorlng and evaluaLlon 1hese processes consLlLuLe Lhe opposlLe dlrecLlon of
Lhe Lwoway loop LhaL ls lmbedded ln eparLlclpaLlon from lnformaLlon Lo recelver Lo
feedback and Lhus Lrlggers poLenLlal lmprovemenLsln governance
Slmple susLalnablllLy ls noL enough Lo respond Lo Lhe conLlnulng changes ln lC1 Pence
progresslve susLalnablllLy should be made an lnLegral parL of every lC1 eparLlclpaLlon
program le lL should noL be sLaLus quo orlenLed 1hls should be provlded as a sLandard
procedure by whlch lC1 programs are Lo be proposed and reallzed
lC1 eparLlclpaLlon sLraLegles are only as good as Lhelr exlsLence ls known by a larger
number of people Pence lL would be mosL helpful lf Lhelr presence and avallablllLy ls
known Lhrough LradlLlonal lnformaLlon campalgn uslng convenLlonal prlnL 1v and
broadcasL medla whlch are currenLly sLlll more wldespread and popular