From: Rich Gauszka 

The Phillipines is even going open source for disaster relief ( thanks to
IBM ). I reckon they don't want the added burden of Vista's enhanced
reduced functionality during a disaster.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=interactive1_april30_2007

RP uses open source system to manage relief operations

THE Philippines will deploy an open source, Web-based system to efficiently
coordinate relief operations after disasters, with the help of a
P2.5-million grant from IBM.

Developed by Sri Lankan programmers in the aftermath of the December 2004
tsunami that devastated their country, Sahana is a free and open source
disaster management system that addresses the common coordination problems
during a disaster such as finding missing people, managing aid, deploying
volunteers and tracking refugee camps effectively.

The Office of the Civil Defense first tested the system after the
Guinsaugon, Letye, landslide in February 2006.

As part of the grant, IBM will provide a “Sahana GO Kit” that includes two
Lenovo notebook computers with Sahana installed; a wireless router,
satellite antenna, a satellite terminal, two Skype phones, a satellite
phone, and a power kit that includes a 1,000-watt solar panel or blanket
and a rechargeable battery pack.

IBM’s grant includes a day of training for disaster officials and
$24,000 in cash to buy 12 months of satellite time.


Adam > wrote:
> http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p070517.htm&no=54
>
> "The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has
> successfully completed User's Training on Free open Source System (FOSS)
> and PC Linux to equip its staff and employees in Bicol the basic
> features of PCLinuxOS.
>
> The training was conducted in three batches with the 1st batch conducted
> on March 19-24; batch 2 on March 26-30; and 3rd batch completed on April
> 1-17.
>
> According to DSWD Bicol regional director Jim Rebustillo, the DSWD is
> the first government agency in Bicol to shift from WindowsOS to
> Open-source Software. Open-source software is a computer software whose
> source code is available under a copyright license that permits users to
> study, change and improve the software and to redistribute it in
> modified or unmodified form. "
>
> "With the users training completed, the department is now ready to its
> full migration from WindowsOS to PCLinuxOS. The eventual shift to FOSS
> particularly PC Linux was in compliance to RA 8971 also known as the
> E-commerce Act of 2000 and RA 8293 known as the Intellectual Property
> Code of the Philippines. The E-commerce Act of 2000 mandates among
> others, that all government departments and offices should accept
> electronic data messages and documents in their transactions within two
> years from its effectivity."
>
>
> So in order to get into IP compliance....switch to OSS.....& dump
> windows & other proprietary programs....
>
> Hurrah.
>
> Adam

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