Thursday, September 18, 2008

University of Southeastern Philippines FOSS Campaign

The Institute of Computing students of the University of Southeastern Philippines are on a big mission, and that is to encourage not only their fellow USEPians but also to all Filipinos to use Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS). As part of our FOSS advocacy, one of our colleague in the person of Thomas Tangian constructed a logo in order to solidify our campaign to encourage both the industry and the academe to use FOSS rather than proprietary software.

The campaign was the initiative of some of our professors namely Engr. Val A. Quimno who is also a FOSS advocate here in Davao city and also the Dean of the Institute of Computing department of USEP, and Dr. Randy S. Gamboa, one of the best professor not only in USEP but all over region XI.

The way I see it, the main reason on why was that FOSS is an alien for the majority in this country is that the national government has lacking support and the initiative promoting FOSS in the country. Another reason is that because of preference. Majority of schools here in the Philippines both on the secondary level and in college level are using and promoting that they are using proprietary products. The government should have a strong partnership together with the academe to promote FOSS to schools here in the Philippines.

"Free to Use", "Free to Distribute". Please Let Us Support Free and Open - Source Softwares.