SMS AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN THE PHILIPPINES

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• SMS AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Emmanuel C. Lallana, PhD Commissioner
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THE CHALLENGE

• Using Mobile Phones and SMS to promote democratic
  governance (i.e., organizing institutional
  frameworks to achieve democratic ideals)

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Mobile Phones in Developing World

• Greater penetration than traditional phones and
  internet
• SMS as killer app
• Wide variety of uses despite inherent limitations

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eGov in .ph

• Citizen-centric
• No (explicit) Pro-Poor bias
• Supply rather than demand driven
• Focus on Web-site development
• 2 Projects Focused on Marginal Groups
• eFarmers Network
• Telehealth

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eGov in .ph

• 41st in 2005 UN Global eGov Readiness Report
• No. 4 in South and Eastern Asia
• Behind South Korea, Singapore, Japan
• Better than Malaysia, Thailand, China, Indonesia,
  Vietnam
• 15th in eParticipation Index
• after Singapore, Korea BUT better than Japan

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SMS in Government - Overview

• Half of all those with online services have SMS
  facility
• Per NCC study SMS is used by government agencies
  to provide 1) information, 2) feedback services,
  3) more convenient and faster services delivery

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SMS in Democratic Governance

• Public Information
• Delivery of Service
• Amplifying Voice
• Vigilantism
• Elections
• Mass Action
• Developing Political Accounts

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SMS in Democratic Governance

• Public Information
• PRESYO AT PANAHON
• Department of Agriculture
• TextDTI
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Delivery of Service
• PAYBIR
• Bureau of Internal Revenue

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SMS in Democratic Governance

• Amplifying Voice
• TXTGMA
• Office of the President
• TXTMCF
• Office of the Mayor, Marikina City
• TextCSC
• Civil Service Commission
• Citizen Activism
• Patrol 117
• Department of Interior and Local Gov

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SMS in Democratic Governance

• Elections
• Text Brigade/Viral Marketing
• Campaign Management
• Mass Action
• EDSA
• Rallies, Demonstrations

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SMS in Democratic Governance

• Developing Political Accounts
• Political Ring Tones
• Hello Garci
• SMS Jokes
• Similarities btwn Clinton GMA. Both studied at
  Georgetown, both became Presidents, both became
  embroiled in controversies. The one involved his
  CIGAR and other her GARCI

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Conclusion

• SMS in Government
• Supply Driven
• Private initiative adopted by Govt
• No Govt-wide Strategy
• Used to enhance stature of leader rather than
  strengthen capacity of state to govern
• Reinforces Elite Democracy

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Conclusion

• SMS and Empowerment
• Potential Weapon of the Weak
• Proven Instrument for Mass Mobilization
• Popular Channel to Develop Political Accounts

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End of Presentation
lallana_at_ncc.gov.ph