Another People’s PC project launched

By Erwin Lemuel Oliva INQ7.net

ANOTHER People’s PC project was unveiled last week, this time by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), for government employees.

Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Chairman Virgilio Peña told reporters Tuesday that the “PC ng Bayan (People’s PC)” is a new initiative that offers a 16,500- to 16,7000-peso Intel and AMD-based PCs that come with new printers.

The PCs are available for purchase through the DBM Procurement Services on a cash basis. There are 10,000 units -- half of them are AMD-based the other are Intel-based -- that will be made available for purchase through local PC distributors.

According to the DBM Procurement Service website (http://www.procurementservice.org/ps/index.cfm?handler=News), the two local distributors of the PCs are Columbia Technologies and Advance Solutions. Both were awarded to supply DBM 10,000 units of unbranded personal computers “as alternatives to the high-priced consumer market dominated by branded PCs,” according to DBM.

The new people’s PC offering will cost 16,500 pesos for an AMD-based unit, and 16,700 pesos for the Intel Celeron-based unit. Both PC packages come with a free color printer (Lexmark 2515) and one load of colored ink.

Interestingly, each PC will come pre-installed with an open source operating system and open office or office works productivity suite, with capability for Internet connection.

Microsoft software is also available as an option at a special prize, DBM said.

The government agency indicated in its website that the purchase mechanics will be posted soon.

The people’s PC of DBM will be available in Metro Manila and other provinces. But initially, the agency disclosed that the affordable PC package will become available in 10 of its regional centers in the country.

Meanwhile, Intel with the CICT is set to announce an upgrade to its “People’s PC” initiative this week, Peña said.

The CICT official said Intel will be offering “upgraded PCs for the expanded People’s PC initiative.”

He did not disclose the specifications of the new PCs that will be offered under this program. He, however, revealed that Intel would introduce a financing scheme through a bank as an additional component to the People’s PC program.

The Development Bank of the Philippines Data Center Inc. announced last week a similar people’s PC initiative, dubbed “Kompyuter sa Bawat Pilipino Movement (KPM).” It is a computer deployment project for Filipinos in the grassroots, targeting housewives, out-of-school youth, returning overseas workers and other home-based Filipinos, according to DCI Chief Operating Officer Andrew Martino Guitarte.

Under the KPM project, Filipinos in target provinces can acquire a People’s PC unit with either a wi-fi or wi-max connection as well as basic desktop functions.