Open source gaining in PHL - House ICT chair

Adoption of open source software by government agencies, business and other sectors bodes well for pending legislation on open source, according to Representative Sigfrido R. Tinga, chairman of the House committee on information and communication technology (ICT). Tinga, told GMA News Online Saturday at the Software Freedom Day program at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), that "government is not usually an innovator when it comes to technology," but he assured that his committee will act on ICT measures. Tinga said it is only a matter of time before open source technology gains wide acceptance in the country. He added that some technology solutions being offered these days could soon be rendered obsolete by open source. In the House, the only measure filed about free and open source software (FOSS) is House Bill 1011 of Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Teddy A. Casiño. The counterpart in the other chamber of Congress is Senate Bill 2821 of Senator Manuel B. Villar. "The government will continue to be dependent on proprietary and foreign software technologies unless it actively supports FOSS initiatives and gives preference to the use of FOSS in institutions," said Rick Bahague, national coordinator of the Computer Professionals’ Union, also at the Software Freedom Day activities in UST. Executive branch initiatives Last July, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the Aquino administration is seriously considering adopting open source technology, especially because of the potential for significant cost savings. Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo has taken on the task of studying the open source matter further. In his budget message for the proposed 2012 General Appropriations Act, President Beningo Aquino III said his administration has “focused P2.9 billion to support major ICT projects that promote transparency and accountability in government operations and more responsive front line services." Aquino enumerated major ICT projects of the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Supreme Court, Commission on Elections, and the government procurement system. However, the budget message did not mention any software policy or ICT subscriptions plan of government. ICT strategic plan Included in the Philippine Digital Strategy 2011 – 2016 is an entry espousing the creation and promotion of “open source applications for national government agencies and local government units where appropriate and provide appropriate training." The agency that presented the master plan, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), was abolished shortly after the plan was unveiled and what remained of the agency was placed in an ICT office under the Department of Science and Technology. Science Secretary Mario Montejo has assured that his agency adopted the Philippine Digital Strategy. — ELR, GMA News