National Broadband Network V1.0?

The Philippines is flooded with a lot of American TV shows, be it on free local TV or cable. A lot of local cable TV show providers looking foreign produced has sprung up with most of the content purely American. It’s not that bad since they are more entertaining and for the most part cutting edge especially in terms of upcoming technologies in communications which sometimes makes me wish our government should have. Shows like CSI, they can access other government organization databases like the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) to check on identities, match DNA and other information they need with a particular case. In 24, satellites are utilized to track down suspects hoping that they would lead them to the “big boss.” Such systems may or may not be in existence but just imagine what one can do with such tools at your disposal.

Our town has been computerized for the last five years. For a third world country and not being considered a first class municipality, I’d say, that’s not bad. Recently there’s a buzz regarding plans by the government to build a National Broadband Network (NBN) focusing more on wireless technology. I never thought such an idea would ever come by in my lifetime since the government is faced with a lot of other things to attend to. If ever it pushes through, it’s going to be huge, maybe bigger than the Biofuels Act.

The network once established would facilitate better communications between agencies, municipalities and other sub units within the government. In mobile communications, the government is expected to reap savings, as they would not be relying on third party service providers most of the time. High-end cellular phones nowadays are considered hybrid cellular phones which can handle GSM, 3G, EDGE and WiFi. VOIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol was limited to personal computers before but since hybrid phones have WiFi, mobile VOIP is now possible. For inter-building communications, PABX systems and all that wires with it will no longer be needed making offices more mobile less clutter.

The way I look at it, it’s not just savings from mobile communications that the government would benefit from. Since the network is primarily a data network, interconnecting all agencies data systems would result in improvements of the way government services are being delivered. I have one inconvenient experience with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) a couple of years ago regarding car registration. We have acquired a pre-owned pick-up truck and we have to register it in our local LTO but we are not able to register the automobile without first getting some certification from where it was originally registered and that is in Manila. So we went to Manila to get the certification and while there I met somebody from Samar who basically needs the same document but in his case just for the second hand engine he bought from Manila. I am from Zambales that is four to five hours’ drive to Manila but I pity the person from Samar, I think he needs to ride a ship or an airplane to go to Manila. Imagine the cost incurred by us just to get the certification, a piece of paper not even worth 500 pesos that could have been done thru e-mail.

Another sector that would benefit from it if included is education and labor. A lot of public schools lack decent libraries but recently, a lot of public schools have established computer laboratories with the aid of mostly politicians. With the NBN, these computer laboratories can also serve as virtual libraries by connecting to the Internet, therefore filling the gaps brought by outdated libraries and the so called declining teaching skills. Implementing such a network will require a lot of personnel but it’s not a problem since our country is churning out IT professionals that rival countries like India by the minute. But the question is, will they stick with the government or rather bail out like the rest of migrating Filipinos because of meager pay.

Is now really the time for this project? Some would say the money would be better spent for education. Building more classrooms, books and improvement in the education system should be the priority of the government, which is really true. If only we have research capabilities and resources like other countries, we could build this network on our own, no need for others to do it for us like the Koreans do. At the end of the day, technology would actually dictate whether it’s the right time. We may as well wait for another two years or four because the technology is still in its early stages (for the VOIP and WiFi). Issues of coverage and reliability will be its Achilles heel, better wait for the next evolution of 802.11.

E-jeep, not the Pyramid country!

The Philippine Jeep is one of the things that we Filipinos can be identified with. It has been our countries prolific mode for mass transport for almost fifty years. It is a groundbreaking achievement of Philippine Automotive although it is only a modification (innovation) of the World War II army jeep. Through the years the jeep has taken a lot of shapes, colors, designs and last thing I’ve checked even air conditioning. The only downside with the jeep is that most of them are powered with old diesel engines that are known for emitting most of the carbon that is giving us a major headache right now. Carbon emissions from these engines are now a thing of the past thanks to the passage and enactment of the Bio-fuels Law that mandates oils firms to add one percent of coco methyl ester to diesel and five percent ethanol to gasoline (Miguel Zubiri, take a bow, you have every right to be a senator of this country). But that’s another story.

This year, the jeep would take on its next generation platform, the “e-jeep.” The e-jeep boasts the promise to be the first electric powered vehicle for mass transport on four wheels, which is a first in the Philippines, and maybe even the whole world. But sad to say, no Filipino will be credited to this endeavor since it’s made in China. Right now, Bacolod and Makati City are testing out its viability. Should it be fully adapted, this would greatly reduce carbon emissions hence contribute in solving the worst crisis of all time, “climate change.”

I have mixed reactions when I first read about it through the newspapers. I’d say it’s a bold move that can only be successful with the backing of the government since the initial cost is not that cheap compared to the conventional one. It might bring the price of fossil fuels down should we no longer be dependent on it. It would make commuting in the city convenient and cheaper (we wont have to cover our nose when we commute or maybe we’d still do due to dust). The e-jeep is dependent on electricity and so where would it get it? The plan is that there’d generators using organic waste as fuel. Organic waste is abundant but will it suffice should this idea blows out of proportion? Maybe yes, maybe no. Probably it would still rely on major electric companies for its juice and that’s our dilemma. We are a country that has so much potential for other means of energy but preferred those that are considered environment un-friendly. The e-jeep would have been more environment-friendly and efficient if only it made use of solar panels on its roof that is not that difficult to do but would make the cost of an e-jeep a little higher.

Climate change is a global crisis, what we do now as a country is a big thing but what other countries would and would not do is crucial. Will the e-jeep live up to its promise? Again, maybe no… maybe yes.