The government is putting up the contract on the bidding table after years of being managed and developed for free of charge by a group composed of Microsoft Philippines, Softrigger Interactive, and Bitstop Computers.
This way, we can also enhance government and private sector collaboration," said Timoteo Diaz de Rivera, director general of the National Computer Center.
De Rivera gave out certificates of recognition last February 2 to representatives of the three companies involved in the development of the portal after it was cited by the United Nations (UN) as "being on par with the rest of the world."
The UN 2005 Global eGovernment Readiness Report credited the Philippines for having "developed a solid presence across all stages of e-government." The country climbed up from 47th in 2004 to 41st in the most recent release of the world body’s e-government readiness global index.
It was in 2001 when the initiative to set up a central government portal was started. K2 Interactive first developed a Linux-based portal but was replaced later on by a Microsoft-based platform built by Softrigger Interactive.
Softrigger, in close collaboration with Microsoft, has since been in charge of the management and development of the website. Dagupan-based Bitstop Computers, owned by entrepreneur Wilson Chua, is in charge of the hosting as well as the security features of the portal.
According to Chua, they recorded at least half a million intrusions per month since the portal’s creation in 2001. This figure has gone down to 2,000 after the landmark conviction of Ilonggo hacker JJ Ma. Giner last year.
"That conviction sent the message to hackers that the government is serious in implementing the law against hacking," Chua said.
He added the site has been defaced for two times only — the first time was in 2001 when it was new and vulnerable for hacking, and the second time was two years ago when its password was apparently compromised.
Chua said unauthorized incursions also terminate from other countries, mostly from China. "Chinese hackers are most active when issues such as the Spratlys heat up between the Philippines and China."
NCC’s De Rivera said the commercialization of the portal will bring in enhancements and additional security features.
A separate contract, worth R60 million, has in fact been awarded to the MIS unit of the Development Bank of the Philippines for the development of a payment gateway that will integrated in the portal.
The DBP contract did not go through public bidding because it was a transaction involving two government agencies, De Rivera said. The payment gateway is expected to go live middle of this year, he added.
The NCC official said they initially approached the Land Bank of the Philippines, another government financial institution, because it has already developed an e-payment facility for numerous public agencies. The deal did not push through since the Landbank requires those that will transact to open first a Landbank account, unlike the DBP offer which is open to all bank account holders.
As for the first failed bidding, De Rivera said the procurement service of the Department of Budget and Management was overly strict in conducting the bid. "But that’s their system so just have to respect that."
The official said the prequalification for the second bidding is set for this month, while the actual bidding will be held probably in March.
Autor: Melvin A. Calimag
Quelle: The Manila Bulletin, 10.02.2006
