[Ubuntu-PH] re FOSS Bill

[Tonyo Cruz]

Hi folks,

Nakagugulat ang mga (hopefully) initial reactions sa PSIA position
paper on the FOSS Bill. But I think we still have to read the FOSS
Bill first -- para makapagbigay ng mahusay-husay na comments. I will
get a copy of the FOSS Bill and post it to the list.

Offhand, I am quite surprised that the terms "competition" and
"freemarket" are being used in the posts. Precisely because of a lack
of a genuine "freemarket" and the monopoly of Microsoft and
proprietary software kung bakit ipinupush ang Bill. Tingin ng Bayan
Muna, masama sa pangkalahatan ang ganitong sitwasyong umiiral ngayon.
In any situation, monopolies suck. And in situations where there are
monopolies, there is no real "freemarket" or "competition". Another
reason why monopolies are bad or intolerable to FOSS is any monopoly's
refusal to admit mistakes, or to be intimated that there's something
better. FOSS is for a genuine competition and a free market.

If only for the billions of pesos we could save for a number of years,
methinks the government should migrate to using FOSS. Security-wise,
the databases of Landbank, GSIS, SSS, Philhealth, Census, etc. should
be resistant to various possible assaults that are unfortunately
mainstays of proprietary software.

Hopefully, we could get this discussion forward and find possible ways
to make the FOSS Bill to make Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Edubuntu more accessible
and attractive for government, corporate and consumer use. I really
wish Ubuntu and FOSS enthusiasts would develop from being fringe
(exclusivist) groups into truly mass movements teaching and helping
people wean away from expensive proprietary software and the world of
commercialized ICT.

Ciao,
Tonyo