The past (1998-2003)…

• EVISNet was established in 1998 through Regional Development Council Resolution No. 7 and 23 (s. 1998) with the following objectives:
  
  1. Establish a common hub among members of the RDC;
  2. Improve delivery of government services by enabling government agencies to make full use of information technology as a tool for coordination, a source of information for planning and decision making, and an effective medium for advocacy;
  3. Make information available to the public for the purpose of increasing transparency and public participation in government; and
  4. Establish a medium of electronic governance, thereby, promoting effective and fast delivery of services and reduce the cost of internet connections used by government agencies.
     
• EVISNet started with an initial funding of P 1 Million provided by the Department of Science and Technology under the DOST Grant–in-Aid (GIA) Program released over two years (1999 and 2000). This amount was used to purchase the hub, servers, modems and other equipment and pay for telephone and bandwidth connections.

• With the assistance of the Leyte Institute of Technology and the administrative and technical support of the NEDA staff, the EVISNet Network Operating Center was established in the LIT campus. The project also opened a walk-in internet facility at the NOC site to cater to the students and faculty of LIT and other neighboring schools.

• EVISNet published the EVISNet website ( www.evis.net.ph ), a regional portal containing an integrated database for all government agencies and state universities and colleges in the region. The website also houses the various information systems and databases currently lodged at the NEDA such as the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (RPMES), Quarterly Regional Economic Situationer (QRES), the Spatial Database for Eastern Visayas Region which is also funded by DOST, Gender and Development, Child Info, etc.

• EVISNet conducted trainings on website development Linux for Systems Administrators . Briefings on the maintenance and management of the regional information center (i.e., how to update and upload data) and use of the internet and services offered by EVISNet (e.g., regional info center, EVISNet mail server, etc.) were also given to RDC member agencies. The EVISNet NOC also provided hands-on trainings to students coming from different IT schools in Tacloban City . It has also coordinated the conduct of an educational tour and seminar on e-Learning in Manila for heads of state universities and colleges.

• With EVISNet just beginning to invest on needed equipment and inviting subscribers, financing was difficult during the first year that it needed RDC to pay for some of its monthly subscription dues. To help sustain the project, RDC passed Resolution No. 65 in 2000 entitled Promoting Internet Connectivity among RDC Members encouraging RDC member agencies to connect to EVISNet.

EVISNet at present…  

• The EVISNet NOC is now located at the NEDA Regional Office building which allows for a closer management of the project. The project is managed by the NEDA as the RDC secretariat with the NEDA Regional Director as Project Coordinator and a NEDA staff detailed on a full time basis as Project Manager.

• One of the unique features of the project is its financial viability. It is a self-sustaining project which has been running from its own income since 2000. It is able to maintain its operation without funding support from the national government.

• From its own income, it was able to improve its technical capability and expand the network by acquiring additional equipment, upgrade its bandwidth connection and employ full time staff. Now it employs eight (8) full time contractual staff and one (1) student assistant.

• To date, it has 23 government agency subscribers, 4 non-government organizations, 20 government employees and 8 state universities and colleges. It also sells prepaid internet access cards to make use of excess bandwidth especially at night when SUCs and agencies are not using their connection.

• Services currently offered by EVISNet are as follows:
  
  • Internet Connectivity – government agencies, SUCs, NGOs and government employees
  • Technology Update/ICT Trainings and seminars – Website development, LINUX Systems Administration, e-Learning Methodologies for Higher Education
  • Content Development – maintenance of EVISNet Website as the regional portal
  • Website Development – NEDA website, RDC website, Child Info (UNICEF Project), Gender and Development, and Local Poverty Alleviation Project
  • 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 on internet use for research and instruction
  • On-Line advertisement

 Areas for Improvement (future plans) . . .  

• EVISNet may have services similar to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) but this is not its main function. It was primarily established to provide consistent and reliable data and to serve as the medium of data exchange in the region.

• In keeping with its mandate, EVISNet is currently conducting a Survey on the Status of Information and Communications Technology in State Universities and Colleges and Government Agencies in Region VIII. This will serve as EVISNet’s benchmark in facilitating the implementation of electronic information exchange between government agencies as mandated under AO 332 (RPWEB). Initially, 9 SUCs and 7 government agencies will be covered by the study (8 SUCs and 2 agency studies have been completed and are posted in the EVISNet website).

• For SUCs, the study is particularly aimed at determining their readiness in adopting e-Learning. This will help EVISNet determine how e-Learning can be promoted in the region.

• The study also includes an assessment of respondents’ awareness of the services of EVISNet (i.e., Super Kidlat Prepaid Cards, web hosting, promotion of data exchange, networking, etc.). This will serve as basis for its continuing effort to improve the regional portal and its other services.

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

• Continue improving the regional portal and make it accessible using wireless technology . In terms of content and presentation, www.evis.net.ph still has a lot of room for improvement. It needs to focus on this to stress the importance of content in information sharing. This would need the support of the network members especially in terms of inputs for the database.

• Expand its technical capability in serving the IT needs for e-Governance in Region VIII . Conduct of trainings to EVISNet personnel and network members . Inter-agency support would be generated if agencies are given enough trainings on database and website development/management. IT awareness among government offices also need to be done. Most offices rely only on their IT coordinators limiting the use of their IT resources.

• Expanding the network . 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.

• All of the above will use the findings and recommendations in the studies earlier mentioned.

• Promote application of internet for improving SUCs’ education and administrative services. SUCs recognize the capability of the internet as an effective medium for responding to the needs of the universities and students particularly in improving learning and administrative services such as enrolment, library services etc. EVISNet shall, therefore, promote the adoption of on line enrolment services among SUCs to enable them to reach out to the growing number of students requiring flexible access to education.

• Enter into mutually beneficial agreements with telephone companies . EVISNet and the telephone companies to which it is subscribing have agreed on a principle of common goals, partnership and complementation. Such agreements include:
  
  • Mutual recognition of both TelCo and EVISNet’s role in the promotion of information and communication technology in Region VIII;
  • Continued provision of reasonably priced internet connection to EVISNet;
  • Telco’s support to EVISNet in providing internet connection to SUCs rather than competing with the project;
  • Respect to TelCo’s right of “First Refusal”. EVISNet will consult TelCo if they can connect to the SUCs that EVISNet will cover in the future; and
  • TelCo’s support to other initiatives of EVISNet.
    
• Maintaining operational and financial viability . EVISNet is a relevant and unique project. It has served and has the potential to serve the region promote IT pursuant to the region’s vision to be a Model in the Use of Information Technology(Regional Development Plan 2000-2004). It therefore deserves to be supported to enable it to meet its expenses and provide the services for which it was created.
  
• Seeking external funding . Preparation of a project proposal for improving information sharing and networking in Eastern Visayas Region through EVISNet for funding under the e-Government fund. The proposal shall be prepared by the NEDA region VIII staff.