Improved education, key to RP's global tech-readiness - Gordon

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today underscored the importance of a better educational system and high levels of technological preparedness to surmount the economic crisis that is currently holding the globe in its grip.

Gordon stressed the paramount need to improve the country's educational system and the level of technological readiness following reports that the Philippines slipped a few notches in the list of network-ready economies and is now lagging behind its neighbors.

"This only underscores how our educational system in the country has badly deteriorated. If we want to combat the effects of this global financial crisis, we have focus on education excellence, innovation and an extensive ICT access," he said.

"The Health and Education Acceleration Program (HEAP) bill which I have been espousing in Congress seeks to resolve the centuries-old problems plaguing our public educational system and improve it to ensure better quality education for our children," he added.

In the latest Global Information Technology Report 2008 to 2009 of the World Economic Forum, the Philippines dropped to 85th place out of 134 countries in terms of network-readiness. In the previous poll, the Philippines ranked 81st.

Topping the list is Denmark , followed by Sweden and United States , respectively. Singapore , the only Asian country which placed in the top 10 rankings, came in fourth, followed by Switzerland and Finland . Also included in the top 10 were Iceland , Norway , Netherlands and Canada .

Other Asian countries which fared better than the Philippines were South Korea , 11th; Hong Kong, 12th; Taiwan , 13th; Japan , 17th; Malaysia , 28th; China , 46th; Thailand , 47th; Brunei , 63rd; Vietnam , 70th; and Indonesia , 83rd.

The Networked Readiness Index examines how prepared countries are to use ICT effectively on three dimensions: the general business, regulatory and infrastructure environment for ICT; the readiness of the three key stakeholder groups individuals, businesses and governments - to use and benefit from ICT; and their actual usage of the latest information and communication technologies available.

The European Union Member States have earmarked �9.1 for ICT funding to conduct research activities that will strengthen Europe 's scientific and technology base to ensure its global leadership in ICT.

It also aims to help drive and stimulate product, service and process innovation and creativity through ICT use and ensure that ICT progress is rapidly transformed into benefits for Europe 's citizens, businesses, industry and governments. Gordon filed Senate Bill 2402 or the HEAP bill, also known as the "text-for-change" bill, which seeks to address the ballooning backlogs in the educational and health care systems among the more than 43,000 public schools nationwide.

Under the SB 2402, a HEAP Corporation will be established to manage funds that would be remitted by giant telecommunication companies from a portion of their net revenues from text messages which reportedly reach two billion daily.

The funds would be used to fill the gap in the country's health care and educational requirements.