Malacañang orders gov't to use cheaper Internet solutions

By Erwin Lemuel Oliva INQ7.net

IN line with an order to cut down on government’s telecommunications costs, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has also asked government, particularly the Department of Budget of Management (DBM), to consider pushing less costly Internet solutions for government communication needs.

"We expect all government agencies to strictly implement our standing austerity measures. Modern information and communication technologies should be rationalized for speedy and smooth government transactions that maintain the quality of service we deliver to the people," said Presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye in a statement.

Bunye stressed that the President has ordered government to use "networked solutions that are less costly," and to take advantage of the Internet.

Government data showed that state officials and employees had spent about 3.7 billion pesos in unauthorized telephone bills and communications services in 2004 alone. Government's bills were about 447 million pesos higher than the expenses incurred the previous year.

DBM Secretary Romulo Neri said in a statement that the agency was eyeing several measures, including the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to lower government's annual phone bill.

VoIP allows telephone calls using a computer network over a data network like the Internet by converting the voice signal from a telephone into a digital signal, then reconverting it back at the other end.

He also suggested that to cut down government spending, officials must be given a fixed budget for cell phone calls.

"Like what we do here at the DBM, we budget calls at P1,500 per director," Neri was quoted as saying in a Malacañang statement.

A Commission on Audit report showed that out of the 3.73 billion pesos communication bill, national government agencies accounted for 1.897 billion pesos; government owned and controlled corporations, 1.116 billion pesos; and local governments, 710 million pesos.