Services & Regulation Era

Assuming a strong service bureau nature for the period 1976- 1986 under the helm of Baraoidin, NCC offered a wide spectrum of services ranging from the design of MIS, actual computer processing, to providing computer education training. Until the early 1980's, computer systems were largely mainframes and midrange systems - very expensive and complex to operate, necessitating the direct services and assistance of NCC. With an ever-increasing clientele, major policy directions became expedient. Through the passage of Presidential Decree (PD) 1480 and PD 1408 in June 1978, and Letters of Instruction (LOI) 1380 and 1381, NCC was empowered with policy formulation and regulatory functions. These decrees serve as bases for NCC's plans and programs toward rationalizing computer development and education in the government.

PD 1480 vests NCC with planning, regulatory and coordinative functions needed in its effort to establish the proper computer environment where optimal use of computer technology and maximum benefits can be realized. NCC, through NCI in coordination with the Department of Education and Culture and other government agencies concerned, was tasked to (1) supervise and regulate all private EDP training institutes; (2) prescribe standards for curriculum development for basic EDP courses; and (3) formulate rules and regulations to govern operation of existing EDP training institutions and those that may thereafter be established.

PD 1408 mandates the NCC and the Civil Service Commission thru NCI to asses the proficiency of those holding EDP positions and certify those who qualified for eligibility. Henceforth (up to the present), all those certified by the NCI as proficient, validated either thru examinations or NCI training, were granted civil service eligibility.

While this new policy directions embody in themselves noble aspirations, the dispensation of the political leadership at that time somehow slowed down NCC's momentum.

The long years of Martial Law rule in the country stifled economic growth. The market became very dry. Gradually, the Philippines lost its edge in computer technology over its neighboring countries and eventually became known as the sick man of Asia. This, notwithstanding the lifting of Martial law in 1983. A fierce rival of President Marcos, Benigno Aquino was killed and the Filipino nation was pathetically distressed and embattled.

What should perhaps be a major program on planning and policy formulation by NCC had been, instead, a program on regulation. The major accomplishments under this program included the issuance of thousands of clearances for importation of EDP equipment's and hundreds of evaluations of EDP equipment's and service contracts, evaluation of more than a hundred computer acquisition requests, and evaluation accreditation of mushrooming computer schools offering computer training courses. By this time, microcomputers or personal computers proliferated in the country.