The document discusses regulations and initiatives regarding internet cafes in Imus, Cavite, Philippines. It summarizes regulations related to protecting minors, the physical premises, and business operations of internet cafes. It also outlines initiatives by the Internet Cafe Association of Imus to bridge the digital divide through education and e-governance projects. These include providing educational resources online, setting up on-campus internet cafes and a digital library, and creating ordinances to improve conditions for internet cafes and empower communities through information technology.

1. Bridges Internet Café Ordinances and Regulations Internet Café Association of Imus, Inc Initiatives in Breaching the Digital Divide in Imus, Cavite

2. Classification of Regulations Regulations pertaining to the protection of the welfare of minors or students Regulations pertaining to the physical plant of the internet café. Regulations pertaining to the operations of their business.

3. Regulations pertaining to the protection of the welfare of minors or students .

4. Regulations pertaining to the physical plant of the internet café Having the necessary electrical and sanitary permits Having a comfort room for the use of your customers Having the necessary fire extinguishers that you could use in case of a fire. Having sufficient lighting facilities at night Authorities should be able to see the inside of your internet cafes from the street level. Cubicles are not allowed.

5. Regulations pertaining to the operations of their business. Having the necessary permits from the local and national governments. Mandatory membership in a recognized icafe organization. Regulations related to the control of pricing of computer rentals and services. Regulations regarding the use of licensed software to curb piracy.

6. So Much Ordinances Regulating the Operations of the Internet Cafes lacking are Ordinances that provides support and development of the Internet Café as an industry

7. Internet Café Orgs Pushing for more regulations Regulations on Pricing – too much competition Regulations – mandatory membership Regulations limiting the number of internet cafes in a particular area

8. Often Fail Lack of cooperation among the members Internet Café orgs can not function as a regulating body Apathy

9. Bridges

10. Role of the Internet Café Operator Community Access Internet

11. “ Empowering People through Information Communication Technology”

13. Education – through the ICAII. Edu Project The project covers two areas: Content – Providing Schools administrators and teachers with materials that is available in the internet that they could use in their daily activities Web 2.0 applications for school administrators and teachers. Workshop on the use of Google tools for school administrators and teachers. Workshop of the use of computer games in teaching motivation and keeping the students on-line with education

14. Through the courtesy of Mr. John Macasio and Mr. Garrie David a portal was set up http://www.aralanet.org containing all the educational links needed for both the internet café owners and teachers to use in educating our students.

15. Access – Providing schools with the system in which they would be able to maximize the use of technology in their daily activities. Self Sustaining elearning Center inside public and private schools. On Campus Internet Cafes. Imus Municipal Digital Library and Training Center ICAII Free OS Project – Ubuntu – making a statement against software piracy

17. Project Status: For its initial project last year ICAII organized Educators ICT Briefing on Strategic E-Services for Instructional Delivery and Administration last September 26, 2007 at the Tagaytay International Convention Center. 87 school administrators in both public and private schools attended. Main sponsors were Microsoft Philippines, Asian Tech and Citifinancial. For this year we are offering a faculty development workshop on the practical use of the internet in school activities.

19. Consultation with the Commission on Information Communication Technology (CICT) for possible deployment of the eSkwela project for out of school youths and adult learners in the internet cafes in Imus.

21. 2. eGovernance – We are currently working with the local government of Imus in creating ordinances and regulations that would greatly improve the conditions of the internet cafes around the municipality. Proposed ordinance on the creation of the Municipal Information Communication Technology Development Board. – geared towards centralizing the plans and policies on information technology. Proposed the creation of the Barangay eCenters – empowering the barangay by providing them with tools needed to do the day to day transactions of the municipal government in the barangay level – like securing clearances, payment of business permits and land taxes – ecommerce at its best. Using epayment facilities such as Smart Money or Gcash for transparency in government transactions.

23. 3. Community Development – towards a better community through the advances in information technology. Imus Municipal Digital Library and Training Center Creation of the Imus Digital Community Cooperatives – IT resources would be pooled together in a particular barangay to cater to the outsourcing needs of private industries – home based call centers, medical and legal transcriptions, business reports and records, business centers and animation.

24. More Income for Internet Café Owners