Policy Research Helping Provide Affordable Rice to Filipinos

Philippine Institute for Development StudiesMANAGEMENT INFORMATIONIn 2004, majority of the activities supervised bythe Management Information Systems (MIS)personnel were focused on enhancing and upgradingthe Institute’s information technology(IT) support system and infrastructure. Activities includedthe completion of the backend databases fordifferent websites and systems, completion of themodules for some inhouse developed InformationSystems (IS), networking of additional rooms, upgradeof hardware and software of servers, and theupgrade of the local area network (LAN).PIDS website backend database/informationsystem improvementsIn 2004, all the information and data available inthe different websites of PIDS were transferred fromthe old system of static text files to databases. Thiswas made possible by the completion of the backenddatabase system for the main PIDS website. The systemis now similar to the other database-enabledwebsite in the Institute like the SocioEconomic ResearchPortal for the Philippines (SERP-P) and theEconomic Resource Base for Legislators (ERBL).The database is stored in a PC server that can beaccessed by different clients within and outside theInstitute.In addition, the management module of the ProjectMonitoring Information System (PMIS), withfunctionalities such as pdf reporting and grantchart/graphs, was completed in 2004.Upgrade of local area networkThe most significant improvement in the Institute’sIT infrastructure in 2004 was the upgrade of theexisting 10 mbps network to 100 mbps network. Thenetwork upgrade activity was done inhouse after new100/1000 mbps hubs/switches and network cableswere acquired during the start of the third quarterof the year. New cables were installed to interconnectthe new hubs/switches. The new backbonecables run from the MIS room to the 2 nd floor ofthe building. The new networking equipments andcables enabled quicker and responsive access to allnetworked resources such as databases, files anddocuments. New rooms were also connected to thelocal area network.Other activitiesDuring the last quarter of 2004, the MIS providedIT equipment procurement assistance to the Institute.New servers were acquired as well as wirelessnetworking devices and equipments. These newservers upgraded the main database server and theprimary DNS server while the wireless access pointenabled wireless connectivity for wireless ready desktopsand laptops in the building’s fourth floor.The MIS likewise provided assistance to the draftingof the Terms of Reference (TOR) and in thescreening contractors for the Integrated Socioeconomicand Agricultural Database project, which willdevelop a single client-server database system forthe Economic Database System, Agricultural Statisticsand the Online GIS initiatives of the Institute.Over and above these improvements and activities,the Institute’s MIS continues to undertake its regularfunctions such as the development of websitesfor various PIDS projects, the maintenance and improvementof the PIDS network and internet systems;the maintenance of IT equipment, softwareprocurement and installation; updating of the PIDSwebpage; and provision of general IT support servicesto the PIDS staff.16