on NBN controversy...

in light of the nation's acclaimed interest on the highly controversial broadband project, the only consolation i can appreciate now is the fact that it has heighten the interest of people on ICT (information and communications technolgy) and its growing importance in the administration of the public sector. assumingly, that these have been grasped by the public.

The use of ICT in the government or governance in larger concept, has been very vital to the quick development of other countries, which include Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and yes, China. we wonder, why the economies of these countries suddenly surged and bypassed us, is the fact that ICT has been identified, prioritized and utilitized in the public sector, as early as the beginning of the 1990's.

i really believe that NBN should carry on, but i also have doubts on letting a Chinese company handle it, because our country will be definitely beholden for the maintenance of this project. unfortunately, i dont see the private sector really coming in for this purpose, because the primary goal of NBN is service and not profit.

i really believe we should be now on a higher level of using ICT (not just computers, internet and so on) in the public sector for national development. thus, it is high time we develop our own human resource who can handle ICT for public sector. these require highly specific skills and knowledge, on techonology, public administration, and legalities. thus, i am not surprised if even Abalos himself admitted he didnt even know what broadband is. and more government ICT projects continue to fail.

hopefully, HR development for ICT management in the public sector will be one of the resolutions that the Senate conducting the project will take into consideration.