GEITE01X
Activity No. 5 โ Understanding the Digital Divide in the Philippines
Group 1: Economic Divide
Avillones, Josh Anthony R.
Cabrera, Elizabeth B.
Gadicho, Exequiel William T.
Malveda, Raja C.
Pestano, Gwynne Khlair R.
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Guidelines and tips
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Community
Ask the community
Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts
University Rankings
Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users
Free resources
Our save-the-student-ebooks!
Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors
Bridging the Digital Divide: Addressing the Economic Divide in Filipino Communities, Summaries of Accounting
The impact of the economic divide on filipino communities, particularly in rural areas. It highlights the challenges faced by rural residents in accessing technology, education, and basic services, leading to limited economic opportunities. The document then proposes solutions to bridge the divide, including government initiatives, community efforts, digital literacy programs, and infrastructure improvements. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration between government, private sector, and local communities to ensure equitable access to digital resources and opportunities.
Typology: Summaries
2023/2024
1 / 9
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
Related documents
Partial preview of the text
Download Bridging the Digital Divide: Addressing the Economic Divide in Filipino Communities and more Summaries Accounting in PDF only on Docsity!
GEITE01X
Activity No. 5 โ Understanding the Digital Divide in the Philippines Group 1: Economic Divide Avillones, Josh Anthony R. Cabrera, Elizabeth B. Gadicho, Exequiel William T. Malveda, Raja C. Pestano, Gwynne Khlair R.
I. Introduction - ( Raja) Economic Divide Economic divide is an unequal distribution of wealth, income, and consumption. It was commonly measured between countries or between sub-populations. Economic divide can be classified in different aspects. Among its many important aspects is income inequality, or the disparity between high-earners, such as CEOs, and low-earners, such minimum wage laborers. An additional factor is wealth inequality, which is the unequal distribution of assets like investments and real estate, and is frequently more noticeable than income disparity. Economic discrepancies across regions, such as those between poor countries or between urban and rural areas, are highlighted by the geographic divide. Generally speaking, urban areas offer greater economic prospects than rural ones. Inequalities based on gender, race, and education are also reflected in the social and demographic divide, where some groups face pay disparities and restricted prospects for economic mobility. In order to promote more equal economic growth, the government frequently needs to step in through initiatives like progressive taxation, social safety nets, and educational spending. This economic divide can cause social tensions, decreased social mobility, and political instability. Scope of Economic Divide Economic divide can affect the digital world by means of: โ There are fewer opportunities for men and women at work due to their lack of knowledge of the digital aspect of the work they try to apply for. โ The economy cannot be competitive because companies are outsourcing jobs to other regions, and there is a lack of people with specific advanced technological knowledge. โ Socioeconomic differences may occur because of the lack of ability to afford the devices needed to get online. II. Impact of Economic Divide on Filipino communities, especially in rural or underserved areas - ( Cabrera, Gadicho) Impact of the Economic Divide on Filipino Communities
who were trained to use smartphones and apps like Facebook learned to sell directly to customers, earning more and attracting buyers from other countries. โ Impact: Without access to technology, rural businesses remain stuck in low-income cycles and rely on intermediaries. Bridging the divide empowers them to earn fairer profits, grow their businesses, and compete in larger markets.
3. Global Competitiveness The economic divide significantly hinders the Philippinesโ ability to compete in global industries like technology and outsourcing. Rural areas, where many talented individuals reside, often lack the infrastructure and resources needed to harness their potential. โ Example: Take the case of two skilled programmers: one in Metro Manila and another in rural Leyte. Both have the same talents and qualifications, but their opportunities differ greatly. The Metro Manila programmer has access to high-speed internet, a reliable computer, and coworking spaces, enabling them to work remotely for an international tech company. They earn a competitive salary, build a professional network, and access online certifications to improve their skills. In contrast, the programmer in Leyte struggles with intermittent internet, outdated equipment, and no local tech community for support. As a result, they are limited to low-paying jobs or may even abandon their career aspirations altogether. โ Impact: This imbalance wastes the potential of rural talent, leaving skilled individuals in these areas underemployed or overlooked. The urban workforce becomes overburdened with opportunities, while rural areas lag behind, relying on government aid or remittances. If rural talents had access to the same digital tools, the Philippines could better compete globally, expand its outsourcing and tech industries, and reduce the urban-rural economic gap. Bridging this divide would also create a more inclusive economy, where talent is utilized no matter where it resides. III. Real-life examples of how it affects Filipino citizens - ( Avillones) There are a lot of examples of how the economic divide affects Filipino citizens. Here are some examples:
Access to education โ Students in rural areas or urban slums often go to crowded public schools with limited learning materials, and not so good facilities. โ Wealthier families can afford private schools or international schools, providing their children with better facilities, small class sizes, and higher quality education. Healthcare inequality โ Many Filipinos rely on public hospitals which are often underfunded, under staffed, and over crowded which leads to untreated illness. โ Wealthy individuals have access to private hospitals with high quality equipment with specialized care, ensuring every patient's better health outcome. House conditions โ Many Filipinos live in the squatters area, under bridges, and etc. With insufficient security around their homes โ Wealthy Filipinos live in subdivisions with security roaming around, or in condominiums with high quality amenities and security. Access to basic services โ Residents in rural areas or urban slums still face unreliable access to electricity, water supply, and internet, lots of filipinos still rely on manual water pumps or expensive communal services โ Wealthy neighborhoods enjoy uninterrupted utilities, fast internet, and other modern conveniences. Disaster preparedness and recovery โ People who live under bridges, squatters area, and people who live on the streets are the most vulnerable when it comes to typhoons, earthquakes, or floods. They lack resources to rebuild their homes. โ Wealthy individuals can recover quickly with their insurance,their savings to rebuild their homes, or relocate temporarily.
V. Action Plan (All) Action Plan to Bridge the Economic Divide in the Philippines Goal Key Steps Expected Challenges
1. Raising Awareness about the Digital Divide
- Launch a national awareness campaign targeting underserved communities to educate citizens on the importance of digital access and its economic benefits.
- Utilize social media platforms, radio, TV ads, and local community centers for outreach.
- Collaborate with local government units (LGUs) to host town hall meetings and workshops.
- Limited access to media in remote areas, especially in rural or low-income regions.
- Resistance to new technologies due to cultural factors or lack of understanding. 2. Providing Affordable Internet Access and Devices
- Establish public-private partnerships (PPP) to create a subsidized program for affordable internet and devices, targeting low-income and rural communities.
- Collaborate with telecom companies to offer special internet packages for underserved areas.
- Distribute government-subsidized devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets) through community centers, schools, and LGUs.
- High cost of technology and infrastructure needed for widespread rollout.
- Regulatory and policy challenges in negotiating with private telecom companies.
- Potential for misuse or theft of subsidized devices.
3. Offering Digital Literacy Training in Rural Areas - Develop and deploy digital literacy curriculum in local languages, focusing on practical skills such as online job searching, basic coding, e-commerce, and using government digital services. - Partner with NGOs, universities, and tech companies to conduct free digital literacy workshops in rural communities. - Set up mobile digital literacy units (e.g., buses with Wi-Fi and computers) to reach remote areas. - Limited access to trainers or educators in rural areas. - Lack of proper infrastructure, such as electricity and space, to conduct training. 4. Encouraging Government and Private Sector Partnerships
- Create a Digital Infrastructure Fund to incentivize private companies to build and expand internet infrastructure in underserved areas.
- Offer tax breaks or subsidies to private companies that invest in rural connectivity and provide discounted internet services.
- Establish a Digital Infrastructure Task Force to coordinate efforts and remove regulatory barriers.
- Conflicting interests between government and private companies.
- Slow implementation due to bureaucratic processes. 5. Promoting Digital Financial Inclusion
- Expand digital payment systems (e.g., GCash, PayMaya) to ensure that even those in rural areas can participate in the digital economy.
- Work with financial institutions to develop low-cost banking solutions and mobile banking access in remote areas.
- Create incentive programs for
- Low trust in digital payment systems, especially in rural and older populations.
- Limited mobile network coverage for financial transactions.