May 19, 1999 – DO 53, s. 1999 – Project Dish (Digital Satellite Highway)
May 19, 1999
DO 53, s. 1999
Project Dish (Digital Satellite Highway)
To:   Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Directors of Services/Centers and Heads of Units
School Administrators/Teachers
1.   The geographical layout of the Philippines is a deterrent factor in making education accessible to all. The rapid population growth of students increases: the disparity between available resources and the quality of education. Although, the State takes appropriate: steps to rectify the condition, quality of education seems to be a dream to many of our learners of basic education. Therefore, there is a need to deploy alternative resources means or system of educating our learners and to provide them easy access to information and communication.
2.   H.T. Telesis Incorporated (HTTI) a privately-owned communications company has been awarded a nationwide franchise (by virtue of Republic Act Mo. 8477 of the tenth Congress of the Republic of the Philippines on February 6, 1998), lo construct, install, establish, and operate and maintain the Philippines first direct transmitting satellite system that will reach the schools and learning centers. HTTI was established to create a leading edge satellite-based communication infrastructure in response to the rapid development of digital technology in the country.
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3.   Therefore, H.T. Telesis Incorporated and the Department through the Philippine Educational Telecommunications Consortium, shall adopt the telecommunication Satellite- based distance education as a learning delivery component of the Philippine Educational System, Otherwise known as the “Project Dish” , the project hopes to reduce inequity and geographical disparity in access, quality and efficiency of public; schools; and: support; the department’s thrusts for decentralization and modernization.
4.   “Project Dish” shall establish an educational network that will improve and equalize the quality of education over the whole archipelago.
Specifically, the objectives of the project are the following:
  • Provide access to information to all learners of basic education;
  • Empower the people especially the young through information technology;
  • Enhance a communication network through a satellite technology to all schools and learning centers in the Philippines.
5.   As per Memorandum of Agreement dated December 16, 1998 between DECS and H.T. Telesis, the; Executive Committee responsible for the overall policy guidelines re: “Project Dish” shall be headed by Assistant Secretary Emmanuel M, Mariano as the Chairman with Mr. Hector Thomas A. Navasero. Chairman and CEO of H.T. Telesis Incorporated; and Mr. Jolly Corporation, as members.

6.   To ensure the smooth and successful implementation of the project, the Project Management Committee is hereby organized. It shall be headed by the Chairman of the Executive Committee, and comprised of the members of the Executive Committee, Chairs of the Secretariat, Technical Curriculum Development and Program Acquisition and Teacher’s Training committees of DECS and H.T. Telesis Incorporated.

7.   The Project Management Committee will be primarily responsible for providing over­all Operational guidelines, and management and coordination of the project implementation
8.   The project and its monitoring and evaluation shall be executed by the various committees constituted by the officials and staff as indicated in enclosure 1.

9.   The Project Management Committee Office shall be located at the Center for Education Technology (CET) G-Floor, Bonifacio Building, DECS Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City; Telephone Numbers: 635-7369,: 632-1361 locals 2086, 2165 & 2170: Telefax Number 631-9636,

10.   All expenses incurred for this project by the DECS personnel shall be charged against Education Technology Project Funds under the Special Provisions of the DECS Budget subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
11.   All DECS agencies and units are directed to provide assistance and support to the Project Management Committee.
12.   Immediate dissemination of this Order is desired.
ANDREW GONZALEZ
Secretary
Incl.: As stated
Reference: None
Allotment: l-(D.O.50-97)
To be indicated in the Perpetual Index
under the following subjects:
COMMITTEE
MEDIA
PROJECT