Growing structure and divide

Again, technology is the knowledge and skill in usage of crafts in everyday life. It creates a multiplier effect in terms of the efficiency of labor or capital. Hence, it may also create a multiplier effect on the difference in efficiency or capability between persons who have the latest technology as compared to those who do not have.

The current digital era has created a divide between people who have and those who have not. The effect is not just in terms of economics (employment, costs, etc) but also in some other aspects. For example, a person who does not have access to the internet do not have the social networking advantage that other people do. Also, those who do not have do not have much voice as compared to those who are up to date by the minute with the news, government's actions, and even in participation in the decision making of the government through expression of opinions online. This divide has widen the already existing poverty gap within nations and even throughout nations. The Philippines do not have as much law with regard to this technology as compared to US, Japan, etc., because we, Filipinos as a whole, are not that familiar with it.

SO the question is how should the government respond to this? There is the one laptop per child project of red hat which would costs the Philippines billion of pesos and there are also some other alternatives.

So what are the alternatives? The first point, I think, that the government should take into account is which effect of the digital divide is pressing? Is it the technical aspect or the computer literacy of the working population - main issue is employment, is it the social aspect, or should the government look into the more long term solution by starting with the young ones. If it is the first one then the government should focus more on training the workforce or retraining those people who got unemployed. If it is the social aspect then the government would just have to encourage the sprouting of internet cafes where access is getting cheaper and cheaper. But if the government should take the long term solution, then the child should not just be taught how to use the technology in their school but should also have access to a computer in the house- which would entail a heavy fiscal punishment to our government. There could be other substitutes like the project where computers with internet access are given to certain barangays where the issue then would be the time of access, the fairness of allocation of time, and transportation to that place.

The invention that was created by man to make life better has ironically caused inequality. This inequality could not be solved by the markets alone because in the first place, the market has already created the initial inequality. Lawmakers must address this issue for this will determine of how will we fare as a nation in the upcoming years.