Post by felixdcat on Nov 3, 2008 4:04:09 GMT -5
by:
Felix C. Maminta-
President, Iligan Internet Cafe Operators Association, Inc.
The telecenters or Internet Café as popularly known today was conceived in Iligan way back in 1995. It started with about twenty (20) Internet Cafes to mention few, like hands-on, electro computers, Himem Computers, which offers email access, encoding, tutorial and other computer services which catered mostly to students, employees, teachers and businessmen. Sometime in 1999, the association of internet café in Iligan was initially organized by few operators who are mostly IT professionals and enthusiasts. This was the period that LAN gaming in Iligan started, where majority of the computers were not internet connected but dedicated to running games only. Although some Internet Cafe provided PC’s intended for online games for internet connected computers.
In 2003, Internet café in Iligan began to grow. This was the period that online chatting became popular and people all walks of life were able to get in touch their families, friends and love ones here and abroad.
In 2005, the Iligan Internet Café Operators Association, Inc. was formally organized and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as corporation. This was on this year that Internet Cafes mushrooming in all corners and streets of the city. Since online PC game has become the thing over the year, it triggered a burst of growth of the Internet Café Industry in Iligan.
Based on the 2005 listing from the permits and licensing office, about 254 internet cafes and computer services providers were officially registered. This made the city of Iligan as the second largest Internet cafés in terms of population in Mindanao. However, there was an abrupt reduction of numbers by almost Fifty (50) percent in 2006. This was due to Microsoft initiated raids and government crackdown of use of unlicensed Microsoft software and operating system allegedly by some Internet café shop owners. Being afraid of being raided, Internet café shops owner in Iligan had temporarily closed down their shops.
A dialogue was being made between IICOA members and the Microsoft Philippines purposely to settle the issue. Among the agreements reached was that IICOA members shall have to install genuine Microsoft software in every computers, and shall have to comply and abide the Microsoft Rental Rights Agreement (an agreement between Microsoft and the lanshop owner allowing the owner to rent and use the computer units to third parties. Microsoft on the other hand shall give discounts to Lanshop owners who will purchase their products by bulk. Sad to note that only few were able to comply due to high cost of the softwares.
As of May 2007, the permits and licensing office had able to register a total of 192 Internet cafés (141) and computer services providers (51). Out of this number, only 148 Internet cafes are accredited with IICOA
Issues and Concerns:
IICOA conducted the Internet Cafe Owners Forum last October 20, 2008 in celebration its 3rd founding anniversary. During the forum, the following issues and concerns were identified as follows:
1. Stiff competition that triggered price wars;
2. Increasing number of individuals having their own internet connection at home;
3. High cost of computers and other equipments;
4. hold –up incident inside internet shops;
5. Lack of software available that will protect computers from destructive viruses;
6. Internet connection failure during week- end and holidays;
7. pornography and sexual abuse and exploitation;
With the passage of City Ordinance 07- 5166 or the Internet Café Ordinance of the city, per SP resolution no.07-276 authored by former city councilor Bienvenido V. Badelles, is a good sign of achieving our goals, especially in our campaign against pornography or virtual prostitution and violence which is rampant in internet café in some parts of the country including Iligan. Mayor Lawrence Cruz had sign and approve the said ordinance and recognizing IICOA as partner in developing and strengthening ICT and Internet Café business in Iligan. Further, IICOA is an active member with the Iligan Information and Communications Technology Council.
Within this year, IICOA will be closely tying up with Microsoft to help members to get licensing in an easier payment scheme. As a matter of fact, the Board of Trustees has unanimously resolved during their recent monthly meeting to invite Microsoft Philippines to hold the Internet Café Summit in Iligan.
At present, the association is closely monitoring those internet cafes that are operating illegally (no busineness permit and charging low prices as P10/hr). The association will be coordinating with the city government and other line agencies to be one in the one stop business permits application shop by next year. Meanwhile, the association will be strictly implementing the Php15.00 per hour as standard rate per Board Resolution No. 03 series of 2007, and pursuantt with section 6.0, paragraph (7) of City Ordinance 07- 5166. The IICOA Price Monitoring Team will be created purposely to verify and check whether the internet café owners are complying with the law and to ensure and maintain fair trade practices and avoid price competition among the members.
Finally, the internet cafe industry should not be looked down to but should be considered as the frontline industry that could contribute to the greatest good of the community. The cooperation of all ICT stakeholders plays a vital role for the development ICT in the country.
Share
Felix C. Maminta-
President, Iligan Internet Cafe Operators Association, Inc.
The telecenters or Internet Café as popularly known today was conceived in Iligan way back in 1995. It started with about twenty (20) Internet Cafes to mention few, like hands-on, electro computers, Himem Computers, which offers email access, encoding, tutorial and other computer services which catered mostly to students, employees, teachers and businessmen. Sometime in 1999, the association of internet café in Iligan was initially organized by few operators who are mostly IT professionals and enthusiasts. This was the period that LAN gaming in Iligan started, where majority of the computers were not internet connected but dedicated to running games only. Although some Internet Cafe provided PC’s intended for online games for internet connected computers.
In 2003, Internet café in Iligan began to grow. This was the period that online chatting became popular and people all walks of life were able to get in touch their families, friends and love ones here and abroad.
In 2005, the Iligan Internet Café Operators Association, Inc. was formally organized and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as corporation. This was on this year that Internet Cafes mushrooming in all corners and streets of the city. Since online PC game has become the thing over the year, it triggered a burst of growth of the Internet Café Industry in Iligan.
Based on the 2005 listing from the permits and licensing office, about 254 internet cafes and computer services providers were officially registered. This made the city of Iligan as the second largest Internet cafés in terms of population in Mindanao. However, there was an abrupt reduction of numbers by almost Fifty (50) percent in 2006. This was due to Microsoft initiated raids and government crackdown of use of unlicensed Microsoft software and operating system allegedly by some Internet café shop owners. Being afraid of being raided, Internet café shops owner in Iligan had temporarily closed down their shops.
A dialogue was being made between IICOA members and the Microsoft Philippines purposely to settle the issue. Among the agreements reached was that IICOA members shall have to install genuine Microsoft software in every computers, and shall have to comply and abide the Microsoft Rental Rights Agreement (an agreement between Microsoft and the lanshop owner allowing the owner to rent and use the computer units to third parties. Microsoft on the other hand shall give discounts to Lanshop owners who will purchase their products by bulk. Sad to note that only few were able to comply due to high cost of the softwares.
As of May 2007, the permits and licensing office had able to register a total of 192 Internet cafés (141) and computer services providers (51). Out of this number, only 148 Internet cafes are accredited with IICOA
Issues and Concerns:
IICOA conducted the Internet Cafe Owners Forum last October 20, 2008 in celebration its 3rd founding anniversary. During the forum, the following issues and concerns were identified as follows:
1. Stiff competition that triggered price wars;
2. Increasing number of individuals having their own internet connection at home;
3. High cost of computers and other equipments;
4. hold –up incident inside internet shops;
5. Lack of software available that will protect computers from destructive viruses;
6. Internet connection failure during week- end and holidays;
7. pornography and sexual abuse and exploitation;
With the passage of City Ordinance 07- 5166 or the Internet Café Ordinance of the city, per SP resolution no.07-276 authored by former city councilor Bienvenido V. Badelles, is a good sign of achieving our goals, especially in our campaign against pornography or virtual prostitution and violence which is rampant in internet café in some parts of the country including Iligan. Mayor Lawrence Cruz had sign and approve the said ordinance and recognizing IICOA as partner in developing and strengthening ICT and Internet Café business in Iligan. Further, IICOA is an active member with the Iligan Information and Communications Technology Council.
Within this year, IICOA will be closely tying up with Microsoft to help members to get licensing in an easier payment scheme. As a matter of fact, the Board of Trustees has unanimously resolved during their recent monthly meeting to invite Microsoft Philippines to hold the Internet Café Summit in Iligan.
At present, the association is closely monitoring those internet cafes that are operating illegally (no busineness permit and charging low prices as P10/hr). The association will be coordinating with the city government and other line agencies to be one in the one stop business permits application shop by next year. Meanwhile, the association will be strictly implementing the Php15.00 per hour as standard rate per Board Resolution No. 03 series of 2007, and pursuantt with section 6.0, paragraph (7) of City Ordinance 07- 5166. The IICOA Price Monitoring Team will be created purposely to verify and check whether the internet café owners are complying with the law and to ensure and maintain fair trade practices and avoid price competition among the members.
Finally, the internet cafe industry should not be looked down to but should be considered as the frontline industry that could contribute to the greatest good of the community. The cooperation of all ICT stakeholders plays a vital role for the development ICT in the country.
Share