Report on the Philippine Seminar
on
DAISY(Digital Accessible Information System)

Sponsored by:

Organized by: The Philippine DAISY Network (PDN)

Philippine Printing House (PPHB-DepEd)
National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)
Adaptive Technology f/t Rehabilitation, Integration & Empowerment of the V.I. (ATRIEV)
Resources for the Blind (RBI)
National Computer Center (NCC-CICT)
The National Library of the Philippines (NLP)

Introduction:

The Philippine DAISY Network (PDN) which is composed of government and non-government agencies recently conducted the seminar as a way to create awareness and introduce DAISY to the different sectors of society and expanding its benefits and beneficiaries. This seminar was held at the Roma Salon of the Manila Hotel on September 5, 2007 from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Fifty three participants coming from different fields of work from government and non-government agencies participated in the seminar.

The Seminar:

Registration for the seminar started at 7:00am since participants came this early. Each participant was given a simple kit containing a write-up about DAISY, a programme of activities, and sample digital talking story books which were collectively produced by past Phil. DAISY trainees contained in one CD and another CD containing information about DAISY and sample of digitally produced stories courtesy of Mr. Monthian.

A group of blind adults opened the program with a prayer song followed by singing the Philippine Anthem. A welcome speech was delivered by the Chief Librarian of the National Library of the Philippines while an inspirational message was given by the newly designated Executive Director-OIC of the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons. After her speech, she presented a plaque of appreciation to Mr. Hiroshi, as the head of DFA and as our way of expressing how grateful we are to DFA in bringing this technology to the Philippines.

We were privileged to have with us during the seminar key persons from DAISY, Mr. Hiroshi Kawamura and Mr. Monthian Buntan, Project Director and Asst. Project Director respectively of Daisy for All. Mr. Kawamura shared to the participants the history of the DAISY, introduced the DAISY Standards and Digital Talking Book (DTB) and gave the different playback tools. Mr. Monthian shared how DAISY started in Thailand and how it is developing now and also gave challenges to the participants on how it could be made successful in the Philippines through collective efforts.

Mr. Dandy Victa of NCWDP, a past DAISY trainee and a trainer shared the objectives of the DAISY Seminar and they are the following:

1. To introduce DAISY to those who as yet do not know what it is or understand why it is the "better way".
2. To increase the awareness of the public in the Philippines in the accessible multimedia which is ideal for people with disabilities as well as for the general public to share information and knowledge.
3. To help bridge the digital divide in the Philippines and to ensure the access to information for the information disadvantaged, such as people with print disabilities, language minorities in a community, indigenous population who do not have their own script, and those who are illiterate.
4. To create capacity building among government and non-government agencies.
5. To expand the network of DAISY in the Philippines.

First half of the seminar was spent on the principles of DAISY production and the second half is the technical aspect of DAISY showing the different ways of how DAISY is produced and showing the participants samples of DTB. Julius Serrano and Lea Vilvar who are past DAISY trainees showed their prowess on how DAISY books are produced. Mr. Hiroshi gave the different playback tools and Ms. Lanie Arminio who was a participant in the AMIS training showed how a Tagalog book is translated into DAISY using the Tagalog AMIS program that they made.

Numerous reactions and questions were raised by the participants and these were entertained by Mr. Hiroshi and Mr. Monthian. Mostly, the participants were grateful that they were given this training and information of this new technology. And it would mean an expansion of their service and additional clients.

A closing message was made by Mr. Noli Agcaoili who is the Chairperson of the Sub-committee of ICT in the Philippines.

Through the initiative of one of the participants who is a radio reporter, she arranged for a phone patch interview over a government radio station DWDD. An interview was made with Mr. Hiroshi just after the seminar. Through this interview, we had the opportunity to promote DAISY.

Lastly, a memorandum of agreement was signed between the DFA represented by Mr. Hiroshi Kawamura and the PDN represented by its Chairperson Mr. Lauro Purcil, to make their commitment to each other binding.

Challenges:

We saw the overwhelming support and understanding of the participants in this new technology. Their only worry is how they can be assured of their right to the copyright law especially the publishers. Copyright is a big problem which most of the participants are concerned about. There is a need to request for amendments of the Philippine copyright law that both the business and non-business sectors can benefit.

Some of the scenes:

NCWDP Exec. Director, Hiroshi, Lauro & Monthian

one of the participants sharing her impression on the seminar

A participant during the question and answer portion

Julius doing a demo on how DAISY books is produced using a synthesized voice

NCWDP giving an award of appreciation to Mr. Hiroshi

Mr. Hiroshi giving his speech on introduction of DTB

PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES