Philippines open source bill gets Sun's support
,----[ Quote ]
| Familiar battle lines are being drawn over pending legslation mandating free
| and open source (FOSS) software for government and educational use in the
| Philippines.
|
| While Microsoft and the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) are
| opposing the controversial free and open source software (FOSS) act (House
| Bill 1716) filed in the Philippine Congress, Sun Microsystems Inc. plans to
| support the bill.
`----
http://www.itworldcanada.com/a/News/1f4e1e17-e6e8-4193-a0de-846d815f2c62.html
That's why Microsoft hates FOSS (it wants to redefine 'open source') and Sun
does not.
This is far from new. Microsoft with the BSA (and ilk) have been fighting
against Open Source in the Philippines for years (despite the fact that the
nation adopts Linux). Examples below, particularly at the very bottom...
something to bear in mind when Microsoft talks about how it 'embraces' OSS.
Recent:
23,000 Linux PCs forge education revolution in Philippines
,----[ Quote ]
| Providing high school students with PCs is seen as a first step to preparing
| them for a technology-literate future, but in the Philippines many schools
| cannot afford to provide computing facilities so after a successful
| deployment of 13,000 Fedora Linux systems from a government grant, plans are
| underway to roll out another 10,000 based on Ubuntu.
`----
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1163450117
DOST, Peza join forces to spark RP open source development
,----[ Quote ]
| The Advanced Science and Technology Institute, a research and development arm
| of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), and the Philippine
| Economic Zone Authority (Peza) are joining forces to spur open source
| development in the Philippines, a top official of the science department
| said.
`----
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080218-119681/DOST-Peza-joins-forces-to-spark-RP-open-source-development
http://tinyurl.com/2pxxam
UP Colleges computerize Student Council elections
,----[ Quote ]
| To be used will be the Halalan Voting System, a Linux-based application
| developed by UP students, which will run on existing computers in the
| participating colleges.
|
| [...]
|
| “Halalan had initially been conceived to run on the UP Diliman campus’ wide
| area network (WAN). But unresolved issues on the reliability of its
| connectivity caused the application to be made to run in its backup mode, via
| LAN in colleges opting to adopt it,” said John Bitanga, Unplug president, who
| also spoke with Tech Times.
|
| “Halalan is basically a relational database system running on SUSE Linux.
| When first used in 2007, its developer platform was PostSQL. However, it has
| been enhanced this year and migrated to the MySQL platform. Both run on Open
| Source,” Bitanga added.
`----
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/11/yehey/techtimes/20080211tech1.html
Related:
,----[ Quote ]
| TACIS runs on an all Open Source platform consisting of PHP using Symphony
| framework, Asynchronous JavaScript and XML or AJAX, and MySQL. This was done
| to avoid millions in pesos more in costs for site licenses and service
| agreements for proprietary platforms.
|
| TACIS’ value proposition for Philippine business is that it enhances the
| capabilities of Filipino firms to meet global standards for their products.
| In other words, to ensure through proper testing that their products are
| world-class.
|
| That this was done on Open Source is yet another blow for its advocates. More
| of these kinds of systems will develop greater acceptance of it by Filipinos.
|
| This voluntary choosing of this platform is the way to go. For Open Source
| can never be imposed upon Filipinos as some misguided legislators insist, by
| decreeing that it be the only platform for government computerization.
|
| Let Open Source be chosen freely. It does have its merits.
`----
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/jan/21/yehey/techtimes/20080121tech1.html
It doesn't seem like they know what "blow" means. They mean it in a good sense.
Related (FOSS in the Philippines):
NCC to tie up with NGO for open source project
,----[ Quote ]
| The National Computer Center (NCC) is looking at working with
| local non-governmental organization in developing open source
| applications under the former's eLGU government project.
`----
http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=190&a=19005
FOSS and e-Governance
,----[ Quote ]
| And there you have it: FOSS in e-government projects work; they're
| cost effective; and they've been met by LGU officials with warm
| welcome. So to reiterate the question: why isn't government
| adopting more FOSS applications to improve local processes?
|
| The main reason, it seems, is the lack of awareness.
`----
http://villageidiotsavant.blogspot.com/2007/03/foss-and-e-governance.html
Too late to discredit open source, advocates say
,----[ Quote ]
| "It's too late," exclaimed Winston Damarillo, founder and
| chairman of software development firm Exist Global, in an
| interview with Computerworld Philippines. "Open source
| is all over the place."
|
| [...]
|
| Anson Uy, president of Touch Solutions (a Red Hat Linux company),
| earlier on broke the news to Computerworld Philippines about the
| alleged "funded missions" by some software firms to discredit open
| source, although he did not identify any company.
|
| Anson revealed among the top three actions against FOSS are being
| done through "sponsored studies, piracy of open source developers,
| and bold press releases."
`----
http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2007/030607-too-late-to-discredit-open.html?fsrc=rss-linux-news
http://tinyurl.com/2bj969
RP firm builds open source curriculum for schools
,----[ Quote ]
| Filipino software firm Exist Global is developing a courseware
| based on its own open source platform for distribution to
| universities and schools that teach software development courses.
`----
http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=190&a=18663
Open source bill hits snag in Congress
,----[ Quote ]
| The bill was criticized by the Philippine Software Industry
| Association (PSIA), an industry group representing major
| software vendors. In a statement, PSIA said the bill limits
| freedom of choice among users and hinders the growth of the industry.
`----
http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=190&a=18662
EU experts to conduct open source workshops
,----[ Quote ]
| The event, titled "Philippine Conference on Free and Open Source
| Software and E- Governance," will be held March 7-8 at the
| Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City.
`----
http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=190&a=18386
CICT offers open source software packages for Filipinos
,----[ Quote ]
| The "Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) CD Kit Series" hopes to
| discourage the use of unlicensed software and promote the
| distribution of software and documents under the free and open
| source licensing models, the CICT said.
|
| In a report distributed by the CICT Human Capital Development
| Group, the agency said the software packages comprise freely
| available open source software that can run on either the Linux
| or Windows operating system.
`----
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=47636
Via, Puppy Linux tout "affordable" computing
,----[ Quote ]
| Puppy Linux was guest-of-honor at an "Affordable Community
| Computing Workshop" this week in the Philippines, where
| participants assembled and took home ultra low-cost, PC-like
| computing devices. The workshop was sponsored by Via and
| several organizations working to close the "digital divide"
| in the Philippines.
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5712218546.html
FOSS Bill Listed For First Public Hearing
,----[ Quote ]
| Listed for November 15th, the hearing by The Committee on Information and
| Communications Technology has invited comment from various stakeholders
| potentially affected by the bill, including community representatives as
| well as industry giants Microsoft and Oracle.
`----
http://www.localfoss.org/Philippino_FOSS_Bill_Public_Hearing
Philippine Linux Company Promotes Free Software by Offering Rental and Lease
to Own Servers
,----[ Quote ]
| Philippine-based Linux company GEN Automation Technologies does their
| share in promoting Free Software by providing small and medium sized
| enterprises (SMEs) the options to avail of rental and lease-to-own
| servers running on Open Source software.
`----
http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/view_press_release.php?rssID=18985
DSWD shifting to open source software -- official
,----[ Quote ]
| DSWD will slowly introduce PCLinux, a flavor of open source software, as
| an alternative desktop platform in the agency. The trained employees will
| then help other employees in the migration to open source software,
| the official added.
|
| "This is no longer an experiment," Armeña added, noting that the open
| source software trainings of selected employees will continue until
| first quarter of 2007.
`----
http://technology.inq7.net/infotech/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=23457
RP Open Source confab: It's time to make the rules
,----[ Quote ]
| After years of breaking the rules in the computing world, it's now time for
| open source to make the rules.
|
| [...]
|
| Right now, there's tremendous opportunity for Filipinos with open
| source skills since 67 percent of servers used in the Internet is based
| on open source technology.
|
| "But we'd also like to emphasize that we're not against any
| software company," Contreras said. "What we're saying is that with
| open source, companies now have an option to choose."
`----
http://www.mb.com.ph/INFO2006092575370.html
The Open Source Bill
,----[ Quote ]
| "This act shall be known as the "Free/Open Source Software (FOSS)
| Act of 2006"
`----
http://www.chinwong.com/Documents/FOSS_bill_draft_.pdf
More schools take to open source
,----[ Quote ]
| Unlike the first two phases of the program that used the proprietary
| Windows operating system and Microsoft Office, the computers in phase 3
| will be bundled with free and open source Fedora Linux and OpenOffice.
|
| "This is the most important milestone," he said, noting that the project
| went to Lenovo in a public bidding in part because its software costs were
| so low.
|
| Free and open source software is also increasingly finding its way into
| state-owned universities and colleges, Lallana said.
`----
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=interactive01_sept04_2006
Part 2 eyed for open source project
,----[ Quote ]
| With the achievements of the Philippine Open Source Initiative
| Project (POSITIVE), its three proponents are seeking to come up
| with a follow-up program to ensure long-term sustainability of POSITIVE,
| this time targeting Philippine companies to play a role.
|
| [...]
|
| So far, Project POSITIVE has trained 218 teachers from 91 participating
| schools. Some of these schools have either fully implemented the
| POSITIVE courseware or some parts of it, depending on the school's
| IT curriculum.
|
| Sianghio said they are hoping to reach more than 100 school partners
| by November.
`----
http://technology.inq7.net/infotech/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=22680
Copying (by hand) from the PDF.
,----[ Quote ]
| An act defining the procurement of software in government agencies,
| promoting the development, and use of free/open source sofware (FOSS)
`----
,----[ Quote ]
| "This act shall be known as the "Free/Open Source Software (FOSS)
| Act of 2006"
`----
http://www.chinwong.com/Documents/FOSS_bill_draft_.pdf
CICT drafts educational open
,----[ Quote ]
| One of the components of FINE is the distribution of a Free and Open
| Source Software (FOSS) CD Kit that contains about a dozen open
| source alternatives to proprietary applications.
|
| These applications include OpenOffice (alternative to Microsoft
| Office), Scribus DTP (alternative to Microsoft Publisher), NVU Web
| Authoring, 3D modeling software Blender (alternative to the more
| expensive Maya), Firefox (alternative to proprietary Web browsers),
| among others.
|
| [...]
|
| Another is the eQuality program that provides open source training
| to students from state colleges and universities.
`----
http://technology.inq7.net/infotech/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=18508
Venture capitalist firm upbeat about local open source market
,----[ Quote ]
| UNLIKE other provinces in the country, Cebu’s open source software community
| is a rapidly growing market, a Filipino venture capitalist said.
|
| “Cebuanos are like the Japanese, who have an open-minded market. It’s a
| matter of time for the open source community here to grow tremendously
| because of your nature to be forward-thinkers,” said US-based Global Gateway
| Venture Capital chairman Winston Damarillo.
`----
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/02/01/bus/venture.capitalist.firm.upbeat.about.local.open.source.market.html
Almost famous
,----[ Quote ]
| Because Linux is free, nobody knows exactly how many people
| use it.
|
| [...]
|
| Ever since the company launched its Windows Genuine Advantage program
| last year, I've said that heavy-handed efforts to crack down on
| software piracy would backfire. The market research company IDC
| seems to agree.
|
| Instead of encouraging users to obtain genuine copies of Windows,
| Microsoft's anti-piracy efforts will cause many users to opt for
| a freely available Linux distribution, says Al Gillen, an IDC analyst.
|
| [...]
|
| For Linux, that promise has already come true. Now all that's
| left is to make it truly famous.
`---
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business6_jan30_2007
|
|
