The Philippines has undertaken a national program called the community e-Center (CeC) in every barangay by 2016. This is in-line with Philippine’s commitments to the World Summit on the Information Society in 2003 and 2005, and with its national strategic plans, to develop projects and program that will bridge the last mile in the country. At the core of such programs is the provision of universal access to Filipinos. The research explores the place of CeCs in the whole national strategy to provide universal, focusing on the specific of sustainability
The research discusses the multi-dimensional character of Community e-Centers and its potential to provide long-term impact to the socio-economic goals of a community. But this can only happen if the CeC’s will be able to work sustain its operations until it exhaust its ability to play its role in local development. Thus, although primarily an a socio-infrastructure program, the CeC program should be considered more as a socio-infrastructure project, therefore, the question of sustainability should also be approached with careful consideration of its complex character.
This study has proposed a set of criteria for CeC sustainability. Through the study, the different components, driving factors, and indicators were identified and validated.
There are three CeCs featured from region IV, based on specific qualifications. These three sites are the Boac CeC of Marinduque, Calamba CeC Laguna and Infanta CeC Quezon. These three case studies helped determine which of these variables are more important to achieving sustainability. Through the interview and two surveys conducted in the case study sites, the research has been able to paint a picture of three different CeCs found of the same region but within their own socio-economic-political context.