House Bill on FOSS
Filed Under Technology
I read about Chin Wong’s blog about the use of Free and Open Source Software(FOSS). Apparently, this is being pushed by Rep. Teddy Casino. I’m not really sure if he is the author of the bill or he is just merely sponsoring it. Though I believe that it is a noble act, I think the bill must be carefully thought about. I personally push for the use of open-source software but restricting government agencies to use only FOSS may create more problem than solution. Instead of saving, the government may end up paying more.
Of the several government agencies I worked with (through bodyshop/consultancy work), I noticed that their systems are Windows based(i.e, Applications created in Oracle Developer, Powerbuilder and Visual Basic). Developing these applications involved huge sums of taxpayer’s money. And with merely using Windows as your operating system, you might already be violating some provisions. However, I agree that productivity tools(word processors, spreadsheet, etc) may come from open-source software providers.
Clearly, Rep. Casiño must not rush on filing this bill. The implications must carefully studied and restrictions must be carefully applied. I hope he’ll get some advice from various IT personalities, government agencies(who will mostly affected by the bill) and other concerned citizens.
Here’s one section of the draft bill on use/promotion of FOSS in Higher Educational Institutions
SECTION 10. Promotion of FOSS and open standards in Higher Educational
Institutions (HEIs) –
- 10.1.The government, through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the
National Computing Center (NCC), the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), and any other government office, shall promote the awareness of Filipinos
in free/open source software by providing laboratories; organizing competitions;
encouraging research, thesis and dissertations on free/open source software
development and the development of open standards;- 10.2.Within eighteen (18) months after this Act takes effect, the Department of
Education, the Department of Science and Technology the Commission on Higher
Education, and the University of the Philippines shall jointly formulate and
implement a curriculum for student’s training in the use and development of
free/open source software both in secondary and tertiary education. They will also
formulate a basic government retraining and certification program for existing IT
professionals to test their proficiencies and skills in implementing FOSS solutions.- 10.3.It shall be unlawful for any HEI to offer, as part of its curriculum, a certification
program training students to become professionals on the use and implementation of
proprietary software and solutions if it does not offer, also as part of its curriculum,
a similar certification program for FOSS, open systems and standards.
Here’s the draft of the bill.
I admire the intention but careful and comprehensive study must be done first. What’s your thought about it?