This two-part chapter presents the detailed GISP strategies and solutions towards the realization of Philippine Government Online. Part 1, Government Information Systems, describes the methodology used in the identification of the various information systems, the criteria used in the identification process, the presentation format, and the identified information systems. Part 2, Strategies and Technology Solutions, consists of the identified information systems gaps in government and their corresponding technology solutions, and the indicative system configuration of the technology solutions.
Discussed in detail in this chapter are the interrelationships of various groups of information systems, major databases, technology solutions, online services, and users that are covered under the GISP.
The group on Information Systems and Major Databases consists of the Public Sector, Sectoral, and LGU Mission-Critical Information Systems. These systems comprise the individual information systems of oversight and line agencies whose data requirements and processing requisites cut across various other government agencies. Users and operators of information systems are found all over the country.
The group on Technology Solutions is composed of the various infrastructure technologies that the GISP shall employ. Among these are data warehousing technologies that will be used to store and manage the government’s data on human resources, finance, trade, tourism and industry, health, and other very large government databases culled from various distributed databases housed in individual agency data sources. Also included in this group are electronic document technologies for managing data on human resources, government records and archives, and other document-related activities of the government; and spatial technologies for statistical information, agriculture and agrarian reform data, and public order and safety.
The group on Public Services Information System represents the single access window government portal for both government users and the general public. It provides government users with secured Internet connection via Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to access transactional systems and data dedicated for government use by the Office of the President, staff personnel of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, including local government units (LGUs). The general public uses the public Internet connection to access data for public dissemination, and to engage in electronic transactions such as issuances of permits, licenses, registrations, and other regulatory requirements of the government from the public.
"Philippine Government Online" as a strategy and development framework for electronic governance is depicted in the diagram below.
Part 1. Government Information Systems
Information systems comprise the "building blocks" of the GISP. The identification of these systems requires that programs and projects developed under this plan are high-leverage ICT developments that will generate optimal socioeconomic impact for the least amount of resource inputs. The integration of agency information systems that will seamlessly cut across departmental boundaries to comprise a sectoral information system will highly benefit the industry and private sector enterprises. Moreover, such an integrated system will provide the common man with transparent access to information culled from various government agencies.
A. General System Categories
Government information systems for priority development and deployment during the plan period shall comprise the building blocks of Philippine Government Online. These information systems are classified into four general categories, as follows:
1.0 Mission-Critical Frontline Services Information Systems. These are basically transactional, customer-driven business processes designed to:
1.1 Provide direct public access to government services like land and civil registration, passports and visa approval, and business and professionals licensing;
1.2 Reduce the processing and approval time of government transactions with the public;
1.3 Electronically organize and store vital data/information for easy retrieval or updating, processing, and sharing with government monitoring or statistical agencies; and
1.4 Ensure greater transparency, accountability, and integrity of government operations and transactions.
2.0 Oversight and Common Application Systems. These are information systems designed to support mission-critical government oversight functions such as development planning, fiscal and financial management and operations, auditing, personnel administration and management, and assets and supplies management and procurement.
The systems will allow the integration and networking of information and databases across agencies and thus facilitate information and resource sharing, and enhance coordination of related government oversight functions for planning and decision-making.
3.0 Sectoral Information Systems. These are sector-specific information systems that cut across various departments/agencies catering to the same sectors of the economy or society. These pertain to agriculture, trade, industry, health care, education and manpower training, labor and employment, and other social services.
4.0 Local Government Information Systems. These are common mission-critical business processes, which include revenue administration and business licensing operations of LGUs. These common mission-critical LGU systems, which lend themselves to the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, shall be electronically linked to oversight systems allowing data aggregation and integration to facilitate program monitoring and policy formulation.
The specific mission-critical LGU information systems for LGUs that are identified for priority development will include LGU Business Licensing, LGU Real Estate Tax Mapping and Revenue Collection, and Financial Management.
B. Database and Information
Systems Architecture
To guide information systems development activities over the plan period, the systems content structure will consist of the following elements:
1. Objectives, which articulate the desired end results that the information system intends to achieve, particularly in the areas of improved information quality, efficiency, access, transparency and accountability, integrity, coordination and data sharing, among others.
2. Description of Overall Functionality, which describes general functions of the system, how the system or its components will interact with users and operators in terms of accessing information and inputting information; also describes the general functional relationships between institutional operating units and among business processes.
3. Geographical Dispersal, which indicates the geographical location and scope of the users and operators of the system.
4. Participating Agencies, which itemize all agencies with business processes and databases connected to the system or forming part of the system.
5. Business Processes, Database and Owners, which present a tabulation of the groups of homogeneous and individual business processes together with their possible application systems, and major databases, each serving as a building block of the information system.
6. Systems Architecture, which depicts in graphical format the system’s business processes and data flows.
7. Information Architecture, which depicts in graphical format the relationship of the various databases within the system.
8. Technology Architecture, which depicts in graphical format the physical technology configuration of the system.
C. Priority Information Systems
Following are the priority information systems proposed for development in accordance with the schedules presented in Chapter 5, Implementation and Financing Strategy.
(Note: For a more detailed discussion of each of the proposed priority systems, as well as system, technical and functional architecture of each, please refer to the Technical Annex of this Plan.)
1.0 Mission-Critical Frontline Database
and Information Systems1.1 Public Services Information System (PSIS)
The Public Services Information System (PSIS) provides a one-stop access window and user-friendly guide to the range of government services, information, and regulation useful to the general public and specific organizations and interest groups. The system integrates under a one-access facility all frontline services and regulatory activities of government agencies, government-owned and/or controlled corporations, local government units, and private banks and institutions offering public services and information.
These include Customs and Internal Revenue Services, Civil Registration and Census Enumeration, Vehicle Registration and Drivers Licensing, Professional Regulation and Licensure, Passports and Visa Processing and Authorization, Land Registration and Titling, Business Permits and Registration, and Voters Registration. To integrate all of these frontline services and make them accessible to the public, public kiosks and community telecenters will be set up in central public places, community centers, schools, and municipal halls, with private-sector support. A Philippine government portal, to serve as a one-stop Internet gateway for government, will be developed, incorporating all the features of an information kiosk on the Internet.
1.2 Justice Public Order and Safety Database and Information System (Expanded National Crime Information System – NCIS)
One of the most important elements in crime management and prevention is the availability of data that will form the basis for intelligence work, gathering of evidence, covert and overt operations, and at a higher level, the development of better crime management and crime prevention policies, programs, strategies, and techniques.
The Justice, Public Order and Safety Database and Information System is a system that supports and enhances the existing Crime Information System. It provides electronic linkages from six agencies to 23 different agencies of government involved directly or indirectly with matters related to criminality.
The fundamental component of the system is the module found in the police station, which records complaints, arrests, searches, and intelligence work. The system likewise includes a networked facility for logistics management within the entire police organization, thus providing information on supplies, equipment, accountabilities, maintenance and status, acquisitions and organizational distribution, and other related data that will improve resource management and utilization.
2.0 Oversight and Common Application Systems
2.1 Office of the President Executive Information System (malacañang.gov.ph)
The Office of the President Executive Information System (OPEIS) provides the President, the Executive Secretary, the head of the Presidential Management Staff with a multimedia information support facility that facilitates top-level executive management, reporting, and monitoring system for the entire bureaucracy.
The teleconferencing facility allows the President to conduct virtual meetings with Cabinet members and agency heads down to the provincial level. The facility also accommodates teleconferencing requirements within and among agencies, thus lessening travels to and from Manila, and speeding up the exchange of information and decision-making.
The Cabinet reporting system provides departments and agencies with the facility to report to the President, and ad-hoc communications with the President or the Executive Secretary can be electronically transmitted.
The President’s Web site will contain information on the activities, accomplishments and messages of the President, among others.
2.2 Government Procurement System
(Electronic Procurement System)The Government Procurement System (EPS), which has been initiated by the Department of Budget and Management, is an Internet-based electronic procurement system to rationalize and speed up the procurement process in government. It specifically aims to: (1) improve efficiencies in the procurement system of the government; (2) promote speedy procurement of quality and properly valued equipment and commodities; (3) ensure the integrity of the public-sector procurement process; and (4) widen information and choice on products and prices available to government agencies.
The system features, among others, a supplier and product selection and accreditation; product publication; electronic ordering; negotiation for bulk purchases; centralized/decentralized procurement; monitoring and auditing; and, industry development and research.
2.3 Government Human Resource Management
Database and Information SystemThe system builds on and enhances the existing Government Manpower Information System (GMIS) of the DBM, and related systems at the CSC and GSIS. It provides electronic control of agency plantilla of personnel updated to the budget year authorized positions.
The CSC electronic copy of the plantilla enables counter-checks against the same form accomplished by agencies filled up with incumbents, and the GSIS electronic copy of the same plantilla is useful in updating membership data.
The basic component of the entire system is the agency human resource management information module, which contains all personnel records and transactions. Data from the agency modules can be accessed by DBM and CSC and consolidated into macro statistics useful in policy formulation and analysis, personal services budget formulation and evaluation, and other oversight decision-making activities.
2.4 Government Physical Assets Management
Database and Information System
The system provides an agency module that maintains a record of each physical asset from its acquisition to its maintenance, rehabilitation, and disposal. Infrastructure agencies responsible for the construction and maintenance of key government infrastructure facilities will operate separate information systems with functional features that will enable them to develop inventories and track maintenance and expenditures; and, at the oversight level, the DBM will maintain
a comprehensive physical assets database with information on budgets, expenditures, revenues, inventories, maintenance and utilization, deployment and distribution, etc., coming from the agency modules. The database allows government policymakers to generate physical assets statistics useful in making budgetary and physical assets management policies, rules, regulations, and strategies, plan investments, acquisitions, utilization and deployment, maintenance, and disposal of physical assets.
2.5 Government Integrated Financial Management Database and Information System
The system provides a standardized agency financial management information system to be installed in individual departments and agencies; synchronizes cash management among the Bureau of Treasury, Department of Budget and Management, and accredited banks; allows strong monitoring and control of agency cash flows, cash balances in the banks, government cash program and government cash levels in the Treasury; enables agencies to track and monitor budgetary status, performance and year-end results, including complete information on budget balances and accounts payables; facilitates synchronization of planning, investment programming, budgeting, and performance assessment; provides for migration and deeper application into accrual accounting where assets and liabilities are woven into the entire financial management process and in the accounting processes; and consolidates LGU financial data into the national government financial data, thus making possible analysis of the entire government financial system.
2.6 Statistical Database and Information System
The Statistical Database and Information System has the following overall functional features: statistical databases in departments and agencies with statistical functions as well as agencies whose transaction operations or regulatory functions result in the generation of statistics; centralized point of contact with respect to public acquisition of statistics, through the NSO statistical Web site that is connected to the Public Information Services System. This will allow public access to statistics and provide guidance on the acquisition of more complex statistical information. It will also provide linkage with the Land Use and Environment Management Information System providing geographical information on various statistical data as may be required by the users.
2.7 Government Integrated Records Management
Database and Information SystemThe system features a government records management Web site that will provide directories of government legal and legislative issuances, documents, and other records of public significance and use, guide on the location and accessing of records from various government agencies, and publication of recent legal and legislative issuances, notices and other vital public information. The Records Management and Archives Office (RMAO) will be the key point of access for all government records and will operate the web site; and the National Library will be electronically linked with other public libraries for exchange of library information and for providing public information on a wider range of library resources. Departments and agencies will link their respective records management system and provide a computer-aided system of archiving, library maintenance, and public access.
3.0 Sectoral Information System
3.1 Agriculture and Agrarian Reform
Database and Information SystemThe Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Database and Information System will generate, consolidate and analyze massive amounts of data, from 24 participating government entities covering 35 business processes. This will lead to better sector analysis, better informed policy and program formulation and implementation assessment, and more focused identification of projects and services. It will also allow easy and proximate public access to information on agriculture, trade and business opportunities, technologies, markets and market linkages, sources of inputs, as well as services provided by government agencies, banks, and private-sector organizations on agriculture and agrarian reform.
The system will facilitate electronic submission of pertinent applications for permits, licenses or certifications for applicable regulatory activities. It will thus make participating agencies more efficient, particularly in the enforcement of regulations and provision of frontline services, through computer-
aided retrieval and processing of information.3.2 Education and Manpower Development Database and Information System
Studies are now being conducted to decentralize basic education and improve capacities for program and resource management at the school level. This will enable DECS to more effectively oversee and assess the performance of the
various institutions, and strengthen government’s capacity to supervise and effectively enforce regulation and standards over higher education institutions.
The Education and Manpower Development Database and Information System will support these thrusts through the networking of the databases of public and private academic, research and cultural institutions. This will allow oversight agencies like DECS and CHED to collect and process massive and comprehensive data useful in improving education policy, plans, programs, supervision and monitoring process; provide for an automated school management systems within each public school to strengthen the monitoring facility of the DECS; and allow electronic processing of the issuance of accreditation and permits.
3.3 Trade, Industry and Tourism Information System
The system will generate, share and process massive amounts and various categories of data into analytical information useful in strategic industry planning, monitoring and analysis, policy formulation, and assessment. It allows the key departments, DTI and DOT, to access several related information from related agencies that will improve appreciation and analysis of industry in a way that promotes better, more focused, and more strategic program development and policy formulation.
The system will facilitate electronic transaction processing of certain public services, such as: generation by the public of industry statistics and industry research data; access to information and guidelines on technical assistance, rules, regulations and procedures; and electronic submission of applications for certifications/registrations. Such transaction processing supported by major databases allows individuals to submit applications anywhere in the country. Online query and guide are among the key features of this electronic frontline service facility.
3.4 Land and Environment
Database and Information SystemThe functions of other sectors are considerably improved with the proper use of quality geographical information. For example, health planning can be more focused and monitoring can be more effective if adequate geographical statistics, profiling and analyses of disease prevalence, malnutrition incidence, and morbidity/mortality can be linked with relevant geographical information, for example on population and income, and environment. Criminality can be better understood if geographical information on historical trends of specific crime incidence can be linked with economic and social demography which may give correlation useful in crime management and prevention.
This Land and Environment Database and Information System will lead to better planning, implementation management, monitoring, and assessment of mission-critical sectoral programs and projects through sharing of geographical information.
3.5 Health Care Database and Information System
The DOH is also concerned with attaining better efficiency and effectiveness in enforcing health regulations. With limited manpower and geographical presence in relation to the extensive nationwide prevalence of health institutions, people, and services, the task of regulating should be supported by proper technologies that will store and update background information, easily retrieve it, assist transaction evaluation and processing, and improve supervision and monitoring.
The system will provide computer-aided hospital management operations that will facilitate recording of various hospital operation transactions and other related data; connect to the DOH for reporting purposes to provide a central repository of health data and statistics useful in health policy formulation, and program planning and assessment.
The system allows DOH to establish linkages with the DOST, academic institutions, and private health institutions here and abroad to share health research data and to establish tele-medical information services among local and international medical institutions.
3.6 Welfare, Security, Employment, Housing
and Community Services Information SystemThe system connects the databases of 36 government departments, various local government units and several private sector and agencies to support 46 government business processes. This sharing facility allows extensive analysis of the social welfare sector in its many dimensions. The system allows more focused targeting and configuration of various housing programs by linking population and housing statistics, poverty, demography, and local housing and income statistics.
The system provides several major databases at the DSWD for the entire welfare sector and for its social welfare operations; at the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, which will be the main repository of housing information; and at the Department of Labor and Employment for labor and employment information. The DSWD and DOLE may access the social
security statistics of GSIS, SSS, and private-sector institutions to formulate social security policy.
4.0 Local Government Information Systems
4.1 LGU Revenue Management System
The system provides a stand-alone computer facility to local government units whose revenue management systems are not yet automated. The system provides for data storage and retrieval facility to keep track of taxpaying individuals and establishments, computer-aided evaluation of tax return computations, and amounts to be paid. The system is capable of storing historical data of establishments and payments history, allowing monitoring of taxpayer behavior and thus supporting intelligence and individual establishment monitoring work.
The system links with oversight modules in the DILG, DBM and DOF for purposes of consolidating and analyzing macro-level information on the revenue performance of LGUs.
4.2 LGU Business Regulation System
The system provides a stand-alone facility for LGUs that do not yet have computerized business regulation system. The system provides for a database retrieval and decision support facility for evaluating applications for business permits and for recording approvals, disapprovals, suspensions or extensions. It also stores data on establishment records, thus facilitating information retrieval useful in the evaluation process.
The system links with oversight modules in DILG, DBM, and DOF for purposes of consolidating and analyzing at macro levels the overall business-licensing activities of LGUs, covering receipts, business establishment statistics, measuring local economic activity and other related statistics useful in policy formulation planning.
Part 2. Strategies and Technology Solutions
A two-step approach was employed to identify the technologies that became the basis of the GISP Technology Strategies. First, the identified IS gaps were analyzed to determine which of the technologies studied in Annex C offer solutions that address most of the gaps. Next, a second group of technologies was identified which provides the most opportunities to improve the current state of transaction and information processing in government.
Information Systems Gaps and Corresponding Solutions
The analysis of identified IS gaps versus technologies is summarized in the following table.
The table identifies four technologies that offer the most solutions to the identified gaps. Depicted in columns with the most number of dots, these are Internet technologies, which address 15 gaps, Data Warehousing and Distributed Databases, each addressing 10 gaps, and Virtual Private Networks, with the ability to offer solutions for seven gaps. Brief discussions of how these four technologies help solve the identified gaps follow, but more comprehensive definitions, possible applications, considerations and prognoses of these and other scanned technologies may be found in Annex C.
q Internet-based Technologies, as expected, offer the most solutions for addressing the identified IS gaps. First of all, the adoption of Internet protocols like TCP/IP ensures interoperability and compatibility of ICT equipment, regardless of manufacturer and size. Government websites will allow the general public access to government data, including information on job openings.
The use of Intranets in government, as a further example, will address the proliferation of stand-alone applications and PCs by providing access to central resources. Existing PCs can be used as client stations running nothing more than browsers, thereby postponing their upgrading or replacement.
The pervasiveness of the Internet can also be used to advantage by government in linking regional offices, provincial of tage by government in linking regional offices, provincial offices, and LGUs to NCR-based systems, thereby providing these remote offices with similar functionality as the central offices, and possibly reducing the time it would take to collect and disseminate information. The Internet can provide a continuing and inexpensive means for government agencies to disseminate and share information among themselves and with the public. Moreover, VOIP and videoconferencing technologies make it possible to use the links for more than just data, allowing possible reductions in travel expenses and time spent away from work.
Finally, used in conjunction with online learning technology, the Internet offers an opportunity to address the massive training needs of government, including the need to educate key decision-makers through its ability to deliver on-demand asynchronous training modules nationwide.
q Data Warehousing, including Executive Information Systems and Decision Support Systems, offer the capability of harnessing transactional data from multiple sources to allow analysis and information-based decision-making. As such, it can make use of existing ICT infrastructure since existing stand-alone applications can be used to feed data into the warehouse while current stand-alone PCs may be used to access and analyze data from the warehouse.
When installed, the data warehouse servers will provide the capability to store and process voluminous integrated and historical data, something currently missing in the government’s ICT resources. Through the Internet, these data warehouses may be made available not just to government central offices, but to field offices, LGUs and even the general public.
Finally, the very nature, cost and implementation requirements of data warehouses will force the issue of information sharing within government and hopefully reduce duplication of ICT efforts.
q Distributed Databases. The devolution of functions and the nationwide operation of government make distributed database technology ideal for integrated government applications. Harnessed properly, it provides the solution for the proliferation of stand-alone applications in government, and allows existing systems, particularly hardware, to be retained with some modifications.
The ability of distributed databases to allow data to be physically kept locally while providing logical integration is ideal for central office-field offices set up in most agencies, allowing data to be accessed wherever it is located. The support for local data entry, processing, and storage of information will also alleviate delays in transmitting data from the field. Distributed databases will facilitate sharing of information across departments and agencies, thereby reducing the need for duplication of data and applications.
q VPN (Virtual Private Network) Technology is the practical answer to the need for connectivity in government. Instead of using expensive, and sometimes unavailable, dedicated leased lines to implement wide-area networks, VPN allows the use of comparatively inexpensive shared infrastructure such as the Internet and phone system. In addition to reducing costs, VPN also makes it possible to implement connections immediately in areas where Internet service is available.
VPN will support field office to central office connections, links between agencies, and even public access. It will provide the infrastructure for addressing the issues of data sharing, stand-alone applications, and proliferation of stand-alone PCs. For example, even notebook PCs used in the field can access the agency’s Intranet and databases through a dial-up connection to a local Internet Service Provider.
Finally, because only a single connection to the Internet is required for each site, VPN will provide a single standard for wide area network communications and help reduce the duplications of network infrastructures in government.
Aside from these four technologies, five other technologies deserve further consideration, as they offer unique opportunities to improve government operations: Electronic Commerce, Electronic Document Management, Geographical Information Systems, Online Learning, and Wireless/Mobile Computing.
q Electronic Commerce. E-commerce, particularly over the Internet, is the wave of the future. Practically all big corporations worldwide are looking at e-commerce technology to improve themselves and remain competitive in the future. Government should seriously look into re-engineering its existing processes and procedures to take advantage of the speed, efficiency, and transparency of e-commerce and its applications. Possible applications in government include a centralized electronic procurement system, electronic declarations and payments of taxes and duties, electronic bidding, and electronic registration of businesses.
q Electronic Document Management. Government records, now in poor state, can be stored and accessed in electronic form so they can be kept longer, maintained at less cost, and made accessible to a greater number of people. Since most documents today are produced using computers, it will be relatively straightforward to implement a prospective (i.e.
applicable to all documents from a certain date forward) electronic official document repository. It is also technically feasible to convert existing documents in paper form, but it will take time and money.
q GIS and Remote Sensing and Related Spatial Technologies. More than 80 percent of planning, decision-making and operations in government are related to or affected by location, people, things, and events. Geographical information, that is, maps with associated attribute databases, is therefore essential to effective and efficient governance. Geographical Information System (GIS) technology enables the geographical integration of disparate databases of government agencies. Through location, such as an address, or reference to a street, land parcel, district, barangay, town/city, province, region, or through geographical position or technical description of objects in space, it is possible to link government databases about a geographic area together. Spatial analysis, not possible before with all the types of sorting and manipulation done on databases, is quick and easy in a GIS. There is continuing acquisition and creation of geographically referenced information in government. However, the base maps, with which to relate or overlay these new data sets are very old and doubtful accuracy. There is need to supply all users with common digital updated base maps with which to relate their databases for their applications.
q Online Learning Techniques. Such techniques will not only help address government’s massive training and retraining requirements, but more importantly, can be used to improve the deteriorating quality of education and training in the country. At the very least, placement of course materials on CDs and the Web that can be accessed by teachers and students nationwide will help in standardizing instruction. On the other extreme, Web-based asynchronous distance education/training modules will facilitate massive nationwide training efforts for teachers, government workers, and even professionals in need of continuing education.
q Wireless/Mobile Computing. This offers the unique opportunity to bring the benefits of a computerized government to the remote areas of the country where people in greater need of government assistance reside. Extension and field workers in health, agriculture, social welfare, and livelihood will be more effective if they had the capability to access computing resources and applicable databases while doing their work. This technology will become more important in the future, after the needed government databases and networking have been set up, and when, hopefully, the cost of mobile equipment has gone down.
With these technologies as underpinnings, the following technology strategies and solutions are adopted for GISP implementation:
1. Ensure full and early implementation of the RPWeb initiative.
Given the importance of Internet-based technologies, it is important to, as soon as possible, achieve a "critical mass" of government agencies connected to and using the Internet. The Internet will serve as the means of communication and information dissemination in government, including:
q Publication and dissemination of government e-mail and Web site directories;
q Provision of monetary and manpower support for the setting up, not just of static agency homepages, but agency Intranets and Extranets; and
q Changes in legislation and policy to support Internet-based communication from, to and within government.
2. Use VPN technology in the RPWeb as the nationwide
WAN of government.Since most government agencies will eventually be connected to the Internet because of the RPWeb initiative, VPN technology should be employed to quickly and effectively implement a nationwide network connecting all these agencies. This can be achieved simply by installing VPN access routers in all sites connected to the Internet, defining and implementing an encryption strategy, and upgrading leased line connections of agencies to their ISPs to meet increased data traffic.
A two-level encryption strategy will be adopted where the first level supports the need of some agencies for a purely internal network and the second level allows a common VPN for agencies needing to share data with one another.
Dial-up users will be provided authentication portals with two connections to the Internet, a normal connection, and another employing encryption using a VPN router. The user accesses the portal via its public Web site, and once authenticated, is allowed to send and receive messages through the VPN link.
Since all connections are local (i.e., leased line to local ISP, local call to ISP) total communication costs will be substantially reduced. Furthermore, the connections can be made to carry more data through VOIP and videoconferencing over internal protocol technologies, thereby allowing increased communication and coordination between field and central offices.
3. Adopt the Web-based client-server model for government applications.
Given the growing pervasiveness of the Internet and the
Web, Web-based applications will be the preferred mode in building software applications and work at Web-enabling the critical applications that already exist.
This strategy protects ICT investments against obsolescence and is based on standards. For example, existing PCs can continue to be used as client workstations by making them run browser software. Existing database servers need not necessarily be upgraded, but may be made to support more users through dedicated Web servers that handle so-called "middle layer" functions. The model inherently supports scalability of systems in that processing load can be readily and transparently distributed across multiple servers. Once implemented, servers and clients may be upgraded or replaced independently of each other, thereby allowing system replacement costs to be spread out over several years.
This approach also reduces training requirements for government because it provides a standard, easy-to-use, graphical user interface that is identical for local and remote users. Moreover, the Web-based client-server model has built-in facilities for accessing data from multiple sources over a network, and can be readily used for e-commerce applications in government.
Finally, because the model is essentially a distributed processing system, government will be able to take advantage of the lower acquisition and operating costs of PCs and smaller computers by reducing the need for powerful centralized systems like mainframes. The government can then initially standardize on the following platforms:
q MS Windows-based PCs as clients, since about 90 percent of all PCs worldwide run on the MS Windows platform and PCs can be used both as Internet clients running browser software or as office automation stations;
q Windows NT-based LAN or departmental servers to complement the Windows-based PC workstations and sharing of common resources like printers, Internet connection, etc.;
q Unix-based servers, as these are still the most common open system platforms because of reliability, functionality and portability. Their proven processing power scalability, from small systems supporting several users to very large configurations supporting hundreds, match government’s very wide range of processing requirements.
4. Provide a single point of entry for accessing
public government Web sites.When all government agencies start to put up public Web sites, it will actually become harder for the public to look for information that they need, which may actually be on a Web site but cannot be located by users. For this reason, a single point of entry for users with links to all public government Web sites will be adopted. The site will also contain a search engine to allow users to quickly locate the sites that may contain the information requested.
This strategy will also be useful in enhancing security for government systems. If the Web site mirrors all public homepages, there will be no need to provide general public access to Web servers of the individual departments and agencies, thereby allowing these servers and their links to the Internet to be used exclusively for encrypted interagency and intra-agency data traffic.
5. Design integrated systems based on distributed databases and/or data warehouses.
The use of distributed database and/or data warehouse technologies will be adopted.
Distributed database technology supports many different processing schemes applicable to government operations. This will allow integrated and more sophisticated systems in agencies with field offices to access local and remote database tables within an application. Logically linking fully distributed databases will enable sharing and integration of information across related agencies. Database mirroring, on the other hand, not only supports sharing of data between offices but also provides additional data security with a duplicate copy.
Data warehousing, with its ability to accept data from multiple sources for use in analytical processing without changing the existing operational database, can be used to integrate data from different departments without the risk of jeopardizing their existing computer systems and data. It is particularly useful when the agencies providing the data use different database management system platforms, and may, therefore, be unable to take full advantage of distributed database options.
6. Set up an electronic document repository to improve handling of government records.
With most government offices already using PCs to produce documents, reports, and other records, the efficiency, cost, and reliability of storing and disseminating these records will be greatly improved through a document management system.
Instead of printing out multiple copies of these documents, having them published in the official gazette, and keeping them in archives where future access is nearly impossible, agencies are required to periodically submit electronic copies of all newly
generated official documents to a central electronic repository. The repository will employ CD-R jukeboxes to securely store all the files and provide a facility where all government documents from a certain date forward can be accessed.
Not only will this result in lower costs over the long term (optical disk storage is cheaper than paper), it will also improve access to government records through automatic indexing, text-searching capability, and remote access through the Internet.
Some existing documents will merit conversion to electronic form through repurposing, and subsequently be made available at the repository. Certain key government offices (e.g., OP, Congress, CSC, PNP, DECS, CHED) will set up their own document management system due to their nature of work and volume of documents processed.
7. Install and maintain security mechanisms in all systems.
The connection of government systems to the Internet will expose them to hackers, unauthorized users, viruses and other risks. To address this concern, a security infrastructure will be put in place. A combination of technology, policies, legislated laws, and enforcement procedures will comprise this security infrastructure.
The use of tested security technologies and best security practices in implementing the GISP will be the overriding priority of the plan. Security beyond the standard firewalls will be adopted and deployed to protect systems with valuable data. The public web server must remain "outside" the agency’s firewall. Secure encryption techniques will be employed on all VPN links. Systems will be designed to reject "crackable" passwords, and strictly implement password aging. For e-commerce applications and government business transactions, authentication devices like smart cards, client membership procedures like membership enlistment, and enforcement mechanisms like user Certification Authority will be strictly implemented in combination with standard identification systems and procedures.
8. Adopt/formulate and apply Open System standards
government-wide.Throughout the world, corporations and countries have decided to standardize as a strategy to reduce costs, improve quality, and ensure compatibility and interoperability of systems. Initially confined to manufacturing, strategic standardization has proved to be such a sound practice that many countries and international organizations have created offices solely for formulating and promoting standards. In addition to the popular International Standards Organization (ISO) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI), countries like Australia, Canada, Singapore and even Malaysia have either set up or are newly setting up standards bodies. The NCC will adopt, formulate, and monitor the application of standards throughout government.
In the Philippine government, the strict application of continuously updated ICT standards will help in the successful implementation of ICT projects by simplifying the specification and procurement process, reducing costs through economies of scale, minimizing obsolescence, and ensuring the interoperability of systems. Standards can apply not just to hardware, software, and networks, but to data, procedures, security mechanisms, and systems administration as well.
The Philippines will adopt the following internationally accepted standards to speed up the process of standardization in the country:
q ANSI POSIX and ISO 9945 - for operating systems
q ANSI C and ANSI 2 HTML - for the C language and Java applets
q ISO/IEC 9075 - for SQL
q ISO/IEC 9579 for remote database access
q ISO 8802.3 - for CSMA/CD (Ethernet) Local Area Networking
q ISO 8613 - Office Document Architecture (ODA)
q ISO/IEC 8880 - Multi-protocol information exchange
q ANSI X3.211 - for WORM optical disks
q US DOD Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria 5200.28-STD (Orange Book) - for establishing levels of system security
In addition, the following international standards will also be adopted, without prejudice to the possibility of local adaptation:
q ANSI/IEEE 1008 - for software unit testing
q FIPS PUB 113 - computer data authentication
q ISO/IEC DIS 10745, ISO/IEC DIS 11586 - for security
q ISO/IEC 10164 - for security audit trail
q ISO 6523 - identification of organization codes
Finally, the government will adopt as its standard de facto industry standards and practices such as the use of Windows-based PCs as workstations and Unix based servers. Other de facto standards include:
q TCP/IP suite of protocols (including FTP, SNMP and SMTP) widely used in the Internet for networking government systems
q 10/100Base-T for ordinary workstation LAN connections
q Switched 100Base-TX for higher speed LAN connections for servers
q 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy disks for media exchange
q 650 MB 5.25" compact disks for optical storage
9. Use packaged application software whenever available.
The use of packaged application software will be encouraged, particularly those systems that pertain to accounting, finance and human resources. Better progress on ICT utilization can be achieved by using packaged applications. Among the common information systems identified in the GISP susceptible to packaged application software are those of the LGU-based systems, the OP-EIS, the Integrated Records Management Systems, and the transactional components of the Human Resource, Physical Assets, and Integrated Financial Management Systems.
10. Outsource to the private sector.
Government will never have sufficient manpower, both in terms of quantity and quality, to implement and operate all GISP-identified information systems. Outsourcing will be encouraged to efficiently and effectively implement the GISP, such as contract programming, turnkey development, BOO, BOT, and other similar outsourcing schemes.
Outsourcing as a government strategy is consistent with the recommendations of IT21 and actually benefits government in two ways. Not only will government be able to implement its systems, but it will also stimulate the local ICT service industry which will hopefully gain enough expertise and experience to become globally competitive.
Indicative System Configurations
The matrix on the next page identifies information systems and the appropriate technology solutions.
For purposes of simplifying cost estimation, all servers were assumed to be one of three types: large, medium or small.
Large servers are intended to house the consolidated databases and data warehouses (300 gigabytes to terabyte range) and support hundreds of simultaneous users.
Medium servers can support up to 100 gigabytes of data and 50 simultaneous users if used as database servers. Reconfigured to have less disk storage but more processors and higher memory, the same equipment can support hundreds of users as a heavy-duty Web server.
Small servers are meant for data-processing applications involving up to 20 simultaneous users and 20 gigabytes of data. These servers can also be used as medium-size Web servers.
LAN-based systems are built around Windows NT-based departmental servers with 128 MB memory and 12 GB of disk storage. In addition to being used as LAN servers, the same equipment will serve as small Web servers or as firewalls.
PCs are based on the Microsoft Windows platform and would ideally have a LAN card or an internal modem to allow connection to the government Virtual Private Network.
To implement the envisioned government VPN over the Internet, VPN Access Routers will have to be procured. These routers must have hardware-based encryption capability not only to achieve better performance, but also to lower the risk of unauthorized key distribution. The access router will have two serial ports — one for a possible leased line connection to the ISP, and a second port with auto-dialup capability to serve as a backup, or to enable connection to the ISP in case only dial-up access is available.
Detailed indicative specifications of database servers, departmental servers, PCs and VPN Access Routers are found in Annex C.
