Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

GMA wants DepEd’s cyber plan pushed

Posted on October 11, 2007

PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE –PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has decided to push through with the $460-million Cyber Education project with China, a massive infrastructure contract that was earlier suspended following allegations of irregularity on another Beijing-funded deal.

Mrs. Arroyo said she was tapping the Presidential Task Force on Education to ensure that the CyberEd program would not suffer the fate of the less expensive but controversial $329-million national broadband project.

The President issued her directive after ordering the China Projects Oversight Panel headed by Trade Secretary Peter Favila to protect the project from “unnecessary controversy.”

“Our infrastructure projects and investments must not be derailed because of political noise,” she said in her opening statement during yesterday’s joint meeting of the National Security Council and the National Economic and Development Authority at the Palace.

Mrs. Arroyo made it clear she was undaunted by threats from several opposition lawmakers that they would file a case before the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the project if the administration pushed through with it.

“We must make sure that there will be no stumbling blocks that can hinder the very important Cyber Education project that will benefit millions of our students nationwide,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

The education task force is headed by priest Bienvenido Nebres, president of the Ateneo de Manila University. Four others from the private sector—Angeles University Foundation president Emmanuel Angeles, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Donald Dy, Asian Institute of Management professor Victor Limlingan, and former University of the Philippines president Jose Abueva—are part of the group.

The five, along with Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Romulo Neri, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Augusto Syjuco complete the task force.

“The China Projects Oversight Panel should now begin working out procedures to protect the Cyber Education project from unnecessary controversy, so that world-class information communication technology would reach fourth to sixth class municipalities and the least endowed schools,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

The CyberEd project, also a tieup with the Chinese government, was earlier suspended by the President following allegations of irregularities on the broadband contract with China’s ZTE Corp.

Last week, Mrs. Arroyo said Chinese officials remained committed to the “confident, mature and comprehensive relations” of the two countries despite what happened to the broadband deal.

“We have asked for China’s understanding on our decision not to continue the NBN project and they gave their understanding,” she said.

“We are disappointed that with the broadband not being continued, telecom savings of P3 billion a year from broadband may not be forthcoming,” the President added.

Mrs. Arroyo also ordered Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza to discuss with private firms the government’s efforts to bring down its telecommunication costs.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme