EVISNet Main Page

Introduction

EVISNet was primarily established to provide consistent and reliable data and to serve as the medium of data exchange in the region in support of one of the region’s objective as provided in the Regional Development Plan (RDP), that is to be the model of Information Technology (IT). This main function of EVISNet will continue to be its priority endeavor over other activities of the network. This function will be the backbone of the region’s effort in pursuing e-governance for the region.

Along this line, EVISNet assisted in the formulation of the proposal entitled “Establishment of Regional E-services to Enhance Development in Region VIII”. The proposal aims to support the development of a Region VIII E- society within which E-Government, E-Governance and E-Commerce are integral parts. To pursue this objective the Regional Information System Framework Plan for Region VIII (RISFP) will be formulated.

The RISFP will provide a one portal system for an inter-active, transactional and facilitation services to stakeholders in several areas. According to the proposal, the portal’s core functions are: a) to provide information to local and foreign investors on investments/business opportunities in the region; b) provide cradle to grave e-services to citizens; c) e-services on employment and livelihood opportunities; and, d) e-services for good governance. EVISNet will develop and implement these e-services in the near future through the Eastern Visayas Online being processed for adoption by RDC VIII.

As an ISP, it was a year with many changes both in its operations and plans for the future. The many challenges EVISNet encountered during the year seem unsurmountable. Most of these challenges were due to the fast changing technologies that seem to left EVISNet behind in the race of getting what is new in the market riddled with new technologies. During the year, Region VIII saw the proliferation of low cost internet access offered by Telcos leaving behind EVISNet's operation. These low cost and yet fast internet access were in the form of broadband and DSL. The prepaid access card, KIDLAT had its own battle with other prepaid cards in the market. Lowering its price and giving more time to subscribers were the only way to win the race.

These challenges scrapped EVISNet of its financial resources as postpaid and prepaid subscribers turn their backs to the slow dial-up services and shifted to the faster Broadband or DSL.

Maintaining the operations and making it viable in the long run is a great challenge to EVISNet. New and faster technologies to support the network needs ample investments. It will require external funding as the Regional Development Council (RDC) cannot afford to maintain the operations of this project.

System Administration

As of December 2005, EVISNet operated the network with a 1.5 Mbps bandwith provided by Innove Communications.

The present system has analog dial-up lines for its pre-paid and post paid subscribers. The Network had 45 dial-up lines provided by Bayantel (21) and Globe (24).

Its operation was supported by four (6) servers with Linux and Free BSD as its operating systems, 3 cyclades/serial expanders and 45 56kbps analog modems

During the year, it provided internet connection to 19 government agencies, 4 non-government organizations, 13 government employees and 4 State Universities and Colleges.

To make use of excess bandwidth especially at night when SUCs and agencies are not using their connection, prepaid internet access cards (KIDLAT) were sold.

The services offered by EVISNet during the year were as follows:

Technology Update/ICT Trainings and seminars – Website development, LINUX Systems Administration, e-Learning Methodologies for Higher Education.

Content Development – maintenance of EVISNet Webiste as the regional portal

Networking – assistance to SUCs and other government agencies

Web Hosting - NEDA website, RDC website, Child Info (UNICEF Project), Gender and Development, and Local Poverty Alleviation Project Advocacy, line agencies website, LGU websites and business establishments' websites.

EVISNet Website

To pursue the main function of EVISNET of providing consistent and reliable data and to serve as the medium of data exchange in the region, EVISNET maintains a website containing information on the socio-economic situation of Eastern Visayas and other relevant data of the region. This site also aims to promote Eastern Visayas to the rest of the world and to help researchers, investors, decision-makers, among others .

The website ( www.evis.net.ph ) is also a portal with links and access to websites that are useful to anyone trying to find information in the world wide web. The website can also host the websites of government agencies operating in Region VIII particularly in the light of the E-Commerce Law that mandates all agencies to go on line.

For the month of December,2005 (the month and year this montoring started), there were 2,898 unique hits from visitors of EVISNet website as well as 6,452 page hits or an average of 84 daily unique hits. Of the 201 webpages in the website, the top three most visited web pages are Regional Information, EVISNet Main Page and Attractions/Tourism webpages. The local news is also commonly visited by visitors as it rank fourth in the most visited webpages. Visitors of the website include those from foreign countries like Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

In 2005, the EVISNet website continue to provide the following information and links:

International, national and local news
Sports and weather updates
Foreign exchange
Security alert for viruses
Information on new hardware, software and sharewares
Links to e-government websites, e-learning, e-travel, magazines, music, law e-libraries, jobs, games, shops, search engines, e-banks and e-cards, SUCs websites
NEDA Director's corner – views on the economy
A bulletin board for invitation to bid, EVISNet information on its services and technical assistance
Technology news
eLearning studies in SUCs
Website Research Assistance
eMagazine for SUCs
Tourism/Best of Eastern Visayas
Regional & Local Information
Links to National, Regional and Local Government Websites
Interactive comments

Services Offered

A. Services

EVISNet has been providing two kinds of services, (a) information sharing through the EVISNet Website and (b) access to the Internet. As an internet service provider EVISNet has three types of services, these are:

a) Internet access through leased line/frame relay
b) Internet access through postpaid subscription plan, and
c) Internet access through prepaid internet cards

In order to subsidize the huge amount needed to maintain the internet access services for EVISNet and to maximize the excess bandwidth especially at night when SUCs and government agencies are not using their connection, EVISNet offered prepaid services through the Kidlat Cards since December 2003.

B. Existing Subscribers and Users

For its internet access leased line/frame relay the clients of EVISNet are the State universities and Colleges (SUCs). At present, these SUCs are the Leyte State University (LSU), Leyte Normal University (LNU), Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) and Eastern Samar State University (ESSU).

The subscribers of postpaid subscription plan are the government agencies (19), government and private employees (13) and non-government organizations (4). On the other hand, for its prepaid cards (Kidlat), these are sold through dealers (66) and internet cafes (40).

C) Market Challenges During the Year

With the emergence of new technologies, the City of Tacloban and other cities and urban areas in the region are now enjoying a rapidly falling cost of internet access by institutions, home and individual users. Unlimited dial-up internet access is offered by Bayantel for as low as P599.00 per month. Affordable broadband/DSL connection are offered by Globe and Bayantel. With the emergence of WiFi, Smart is also offering internet access for as low as P799.00 per month.

With these new offerings from different TelCos in the region aided by new technology and equipment, EVISNet is experiencing a reduction in postpaid subscribers both government and individual subscribers. Strong competition for both post paid and prepaid internet access is felt in Tacloban City and its metropolis.

Administrative

There was a change of management towards the later part of the year. The Administrative & Finance Coordinator returned to the MICAD Division in October, 2005. The new Admin & Finance Coordinator took her post on October 24, 2005.

During the year, EVISNet continue to have three contractual personnel, 1 Systems Administrator, 1 Content Development Specialist and 1 Marketing Specialist. Two student assistants were also hired to man the NOC in the evening. In September, two EVISNet contractual staff were absorb by NEDA and were appointed as permanent staff of NEDA Region VIII however, they continue to do there assigned task at EVISNet until the end of the year.

In December, 1 Student Assistant was hired to take the place of the Content Development Specialist who was transferred to the Social Development Division in the same month.

Towards the end of the year several accounts payable for the wages and per diems of travels of EVISNet contractual staff during the year and in the past years were paid.

The monthly meetings of NOC were regularly conducted every month. Among the priority agenda items were as follows: a) update on SUC connection; b) update on dial-up lines; c) update on prepaid internet card (Kidlat) and subscribers; d) usage monitoring; e) status of billing and collection; f) update of receivables and collectibles.

Every month EVISNet staff conducted field visits to SUCs and the KIDLAT dealers in different cities and towns in the province of Leyte. During these visits, KIDLAT cards are being delivered and its sale collected.

EVISNet purchased KIDLAT cards in November, 2005.

A research on payments of old accounts with Bayantel was conducted at the COA office of NEDA 8. It was found out that five of the accounts listed by Bayantel as unpaid were already paid.

A proposal for the upgrading of the dial-up lines was prepared in December entitled “PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR THE UPGRADING/ REPLACEMENT OF EVISNET DIAL-UP SERVICES/ INSTALLATION OF TI/EI GATEWAY AND TWO DIGITAL E1R2.

A Work Program for CY 2006 was also prepared in December.

Finance

Bills of Bayantel, Globe, Leyeco II and other creditors were paid.
The Regional Development Council (RDC) provided funds in the amount of P293,200.00 to pay some of the networks's telephone and electricity bills.
A research on payments of old accounts with Bayantel was conducted at the COA office of NEDA VIII. It was found out that five of the accounts listed by Bayantel as unpaid were already paid.
Towards the end of the year several accounts payable for the wages and per diems of travels of EVISNet contractual staff during the year and in the past years were paid.

Issues and Problems

Decreasing postpaid and prepaid subscribers due to presence of new internet access technologies such as Globe broadband and Bayantel DSL
Intermittent and slow internet services to State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
Recurring demand of Bayantel to pay the alleged back accounts of EVISNet
Insufficient funds to operate the Network Operation Center (NOC)

Recommendations/Solutions

Upgrading of the Leyte Normal University (LNU), Eastern Visayas Information Sharing Network (EVSU) and Leyte State University (LSU) internet access from 128 kbps to 256 kbps and migration to Internet Protocol – Virtual Private Network (IP-VPN)
Researched on the payments made on the alleged back accounts of EVISNet with Bayantel showed most of the listed back accounts were already paid
Prepared proposal to upgrade the dial-up lines from analog to digital for submission to ASTI.
RDC provided additional funds to supplement operational expenses

Future Plans

Among others, EVISNet also plans to undertake the following activities:

Continue improving the regional portal and make it accessible using wireless technology.

Expand its technical capability in serving the IT needs for e-Governance in Region VIII.

Expand and increase the speed of internet access provided to subscribers especially the SUCs network.

EVISNet operates on the principle that interconnectivity of government agencies using the information highway is a prerequisite for effective information exchange. Transfer and management of data would be faster and effective if all agencies are connected to the same network. This will be realized by putting the Eastern Visayas Online.