ICT Forum sa NCC as an ICT Advocacy Tool: A Case Study

Abstract

This study documents the National Computer Center’s (NCC) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) advocacy program, which is the “ICT Forum sa NCC”. It aimed to determine how the advocacy program was carried out and implemented, find out the problems encountered and determine how they were able to overcome it.

Through the results of the study, the researcher intends to help other development communication practitioners in successfully formulating their own advocacy programs.

To administer the study, the researcher conducted documentation on the topic by utilizing existing records and interviewing NCC officials directly involved in the project. It used the qualitative approach for data analysis describing and relating the information researched from the existing records and documents to the answers derived from interviews of NCC officials.

As the lead ICT agency in government, NCC plays a pivotal role in promoting computerization. NCC is in the midst of various ICT advocacies. It is prominent in ICT resource acquisition activities, in ICT development consulting, knowledge-based software engineering, ICT manpower development, and in providing ICT related policies and advocacies.

One pf the most successful ICT advocacy project that the NCC has implemented is the “ICT Forum sa NCC.” A lecture cum press conference, it serves as a venue to discuss the latest ICT issues, trends and technologies. The event is attended by ICT heads and professionals from the government and the academe, as well as members of the press.

Starting out as an ordinary ICT seminar, NCC turned it into a regular event that features the latest in ICT technologies. To sustain it, the organizers thought of ways to finance the advocacy program. Sponsorship from private ICT companies was the solution.

ICT vendors were tapped to fund the event, in exchange for a chance to market their products. A one-hour time-slot is allotted to sponsor that would give them time for product and service demonstration. But under Republic Act 6714, government offices are prohibited to solicit “gifts” from private sector. The “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” refers to gift as a thing or a right to dispose a gratuitously, or any act of liberality, in favor of another who accepts it, and shall include a simulated sale or an ostensibly onerous disposition thereof. (RA 6713, 1989)

So as not to violate the law, NCC thought of other ways that would solve this problem. In order to tap sponsors, they talked with prospects on the benefits of holding audience with the government sector. No letters of solicitation were exchanged, or any Memorandum of Agreement was signed. Everything was done verbally.

In a sense, NCC’s part is that of the organizer for the event who is responsible for the invitation of participants, sponsors and program for the affair. If the sponsor requires it, NCC also recommends suppliers and caterers who would be involved in it.

Presenting a simple and easy to follow process flow, it was concluded that the whole advocacy program is replicable. Agencies wanting to accomplish similar initiatives could use it as an instrument to guide them for the future endeavors.

The research attempted to relate the advocacy program to different communication theories, identifying five, which includes the Dynamic Social Impact Theory, Information Theory, Speech-Act Theory, Accommodation Theory and Planning Theory. The said theories involve process of making sense of information and adopting it in their ways of life.

At the same time, the advocacy program was also related to communication models’ process flow. It was found out that it follows the same procedure of linear interactive and transactional models. For six years, NCC was able to come up with a regular event, educating government CIOs on the latest in ICT technologies. Once a monthly event, they were only able to organize at least four seminars for the whole year. Officials attributed the decline to the shortage of prospective ICT companies that could tapped as sponsors for the event.

As a possible solution, the study recommended that NCC look for other willing ICT companies that would partner with them on their advocacy program. As business on ICT continuously revolves new players continue to come in, offering innovative products and services.

It could be noted that the NCC have already tapped big ICT companies as sponsors for their event. But it was suggested that the agency also focus their efforts in asking ICT start-ups to partner in the advocacy program.

Likewise, it found out that no feedback mechanism is being observed for the advocacy program. Hence, the organizers have no idea if their objectives in educating their target markets were achieved. To provide solution on this, it was suggested that NCC organizers give out feedback forms for participants’ comments and or suggestions.

Results from the said mechanism could serve as a basis for determining the views of their audience. At the same time, organizers may eventually pick some suggestions on how they could further improve their service.