The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Working Group for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) identified three major projects to be included in the BIMP-EAGA Implementation Blueprint (IB) for 2012-2016.
These are the ICT Rural Outreach Program (iROP), BIMP-EAGA Rink (Submarine Cable), and Intelligent Clearance Identification (iClid), projects anchored on technological advancements highlighted during the Strategic Planning for 2012 chaired by Hajah Airah Haji Abdullah, Acting Director of Communications, Ministry of Communications-Brunei Darussalam, held recenly in Manila.
“These technological advancements in BIMP-EAGA are very promising. World-class infrastructure, knowledge, and ICT systems will soon be within our reach, enabling us to tap its potentials to benefit the people of Mindanao,” said Sec. Luwalhati R. Antonino, Chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Philippine-EAGA Signing Minister.
The iROP and iCLID secured funding support and have qualified to be listed for the two-year rolling plan for 2012-2013. BIMP-EAGA Rink will be carried forward to the next rolling plan for 2013-2014.
The iROP is a BIMP-EAGA outreach program aimed to improve the ICT literacy of rural communities through construction of computer telecenters with e-Learning models and mobile applications.
The Philippines has identified 30 pilot sites for the computer telecenters in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Each pilot site is expected to have 20 computers. Brunei has successfully implemented the program›s first phase which includes training courses on e-commerce and the establishment of ICT centers equipped with broadband internet, and other applications. [MinDA]
