The Internet's 10 Most Influential Filipinos

William Padolina

Profile.
William Padolina, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, is a man of exceptional vision who sees clearly the whole socio-economic panorama unfolding and understands the implications of the crests and troughs in the pre- millenium landscape.

Why he's influential.

The Internet's 10 Most Influential Filipinos     The Survey Manny Amador Jim Ayson Fernando Contreras Joel Disini Willy Gan Ken Ilio William Padolina William Torres Leandro Verceles Jr. Rodolfo Villarica

Since 1996, Padolina has been telling everyone how technology management will play a role for global competitiveness. His aggressive campaign has helped technology and Internet awareness in the government sector. He encouraged collaboration on the part of the government, private sector, and academe to push for the growth of the Internet and be one of the tools for the Philippines to become globally competitive.

During the International Conference on the Development of Information Infrastructure in 1996, he was already raising the issue and challenge on the social and legal aspects of digital information and electronics media.

Vision for the Net.
Padolina wants the Internet user base to be broadened and make it truly mass-based, producing world-class students that know the value of information. His biggest achievement is giving specific directions on what the private sector should do in order to achieve growth for the Internet and e-commerce. In a talk at the ICE Manila '98, he said, "The task of making the information network in the region is truly enormous. But these should not serve as a hindrance towards achieving the ultimate goal of the infrastructure that we are struggling to build: to empower the majority, if not to every citizen of the Asia Pacific region and making a significant difference in his life through access to strategic information."

"We need Filipinos to be highly literate in science and technology, not only because it is a requirement for global competitiveness, but also because we need to equip them with the faculties necessary to understand socio-cultural, political, and economic environments of the coming century. Without this literacy, our people will become easy prey for our competitors that do not hesitate to take advantage of our ignorance."