In December 2008 and February 2009, PhilCeCNet and the Commission of ICT conducted an exchange program for Community eCenter managers. The CeC managers of both batches got to visit different types of CeCs in the Luzon and Visayas areas. Below is a compilation of the best practices as well as important observations picked up from these visits:

CeCs based in Local Government Units

Ayungon is now a WiMax zone

• Municipality is now a WiMax zone. CeC provides technical assistance for those who wish to avail of the service.
• CeC now serves as an ISP to nearby communities. Clients include Internet cafes in other towns, schools and households.
• CeC regulates computer use by minors. Games allowed only up to 7pm.
• Income generating strategy employed: treat customers well, replace defective equipment (e.g. headset, mouse, etc) immediately.
• Last year, CeC manager went out of his way to email all senators as well as the Rotary Club requesting support for their project (only two senators replied though, saying that 2008 funds have already been allocated but might reconsider in 2009).

:: Boac CeC, Boac, Marinduque 

• Boac CeC has evolved into Boac TeleRad (short for “teleradiology”). With this development, the Boac Health and Diagnostic Center shall become the center for the whole province.
• CeC manager is active in civic organizations and makes use of his connections in improving the services of their CeC. For instance, the radiologist assisting them now in their teleradiology project is actually a colleague from their REACT (Regional Emergency Assistance Center) group.
• CeC is currently putting together a Community Based Monitoring System. They will also be implementing the Telebarangay Healthcare System and are also looking into another project called TeleStethoscope.

The Development Academy of the Philippines, the National Computer Center’s partner in the implementation of the eLGU Community eCenter Project, compiled some of the emerging good practices of eLGU CeCs which may well be replicated in other CeCs.

:: Nueva Vizcaya Community eCenter

ICT Training

NVCeC’s ICT training program follows the structured and modularized approach to ICT capability-building. It is implemented in collaboration with concerned offices, agencies and institutions from both the government and the private sectors. The training program includes ICT orientation on Windows, word processing, electronic spreadsheets, presentations, Geographic Information System, etc. Among those who have availed of the different trainings are employees of the provincial government, teachers from different municipalities, and even geodetic engineers from other provinces. ICT training manuals are also being developed and updated to support NVCeC’s training program.

Partnership with Spain

NVCeC played quite an important role in the forging of the twinning agreement between Nueva Vizcaya Province and the region of Bizkaia (Biscay) in Spain as negotiations were facilitated by NVCeC’s communication facilities and the local government’s official website.

The twinning agreement aims to establish new channels that will enable the participation of all sectors of the respective societies of both provinces in initiatives of common interest. Part of the agreement is an academic exchange program between the premier educational institutions in Nueva Vizcaya and the University of Basque Country. 

Partnership with MedTranscribe and the Academe

NVCeC established partnership with Saint Mary’s University (SMU) of Bayombong and MedTranscribe Phils, Inc in Manila for the selection and job placement of medical transcription scholars. The tie-up involved a free training and job placement program which consisted of two to three months’ intensive medical transcription training for qualified applicants. As of January 2007, the partnership already produced twenty-six Novo Vizcayano medical transcription scholars.