On the Focus of the Guidelines

DotPH believes that the NTC should:

(1) look for problems that need solving, or

(2) if there are no problems that need solving, NTC must seek to ensure that DotPH's current standard of service is maintained.

By monitoring this standard of service and ensuring that DotPH does not perform below acceptable levels, the NTC can ensure robust and efficient Domain Name service of the .PH domain for the benefit of the local and global Internet communities.

Contrary to DotPH's assertions, the Guidelines are indeed focused on problems which need solutions. Every item in the Guidelines stems from each of the following specific points:

1. accountability of the administrator to the community
2. fair and transparent administration
3. a level and competitive domain registration environment

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Study Group, the ad hoc group tasked by the Information Technology and E-Commerce Council (ITECC) of the Philippines to examine the issues raised against Mr Disini, in their report to the Office of the President had the following conclusion⁵:

It had also established that the more relevant issue is the lack of transparency and consultation in policy changes and management of the .ph domain, thus a governance issue. While the company sometimes attempts to engage in consultations via e-groups, there is an obvious break in trust between the DotPH registry and the local Internet community.

Mr Disini wants us to believe that the problem of PH ccTLD governance is not a real problem worth solving. To forestall the resolution to this problem with the attendant risk that he might be removed as the PH ccTLD administrator, Mr Disini attempts to enmesh the process into debating minutiae. In 2000, he had some measure of success in using this very same tactic when he had the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) treat the complaints as mere consumer complaints.⁶Wisely, the Adboard has steered away from the course Mr Disini has laid out for it by maintaining its focus on policies.

The fact that Mr Disini wants to debate minutiae rather than the fundamental problems is a great indicator of how he had administered the PH ccTLD over the past fourteen years and how he will continue to administer it if given the chance.