*Author for correspondence Indian Journal of Science and Technology, Vol 12(10), DOI: 10.17485/ijst/2019/v12i10/137594, March 2019 ISSN (Print) : 0974-6846 ISSN (Online) : 0974-5645 Challenges of Implementing an E-learning Platform in an Internet Struggling Province in the Philippines Niel Francis B. Casillano* Eastern Samar State University Borongan City, Eastern Samar, Philippines; nfcasillano@gmail.com Keywords: e-learning, Internet Infrastructure, Struggling Abstract Objectives: The recent improvements in the Philippine internet infrastructure by top internet service providers prompted the researcher to investigate the challenges and determine the level of acceptability in the implementation of an e-learning platform in the College of Computer Studies, Eastern Samar State University, Philippines. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Rapid Application Development model was used to develop and improve the e-learning platform. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze its over-all acceptability and a focused group discussion was done to determine the challenges they faced during implementation. Findings: Acceptability resulted in a grand mean of 4.67, interpreted as strongly acceptable. The result implies that the platform adhered to ISO standards in terms of its maintainability, efficiency, reliability, functionality, portability, and usability but a negative finding during the focused group interview was discovered. The interview indicated that a minimal number of students have internet access which impeded them from accessing the platform. Although an alternative locally hosted platform was provided, only a few number of the students can afford to buy devices that are needed to access the system. Application/Improvements: The e-learning platform can be utilized as an alternative learning platform. The system can also make the classroom more flexible by providing students remote access to learning materials. 1. Introduction Eastern Samar is one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, this is primarily caused by the very low eco- nomic activities in the province. One of the services that sufer from this slack in economic activity is the provinces’ internet connectivity. Internet connectivity is a vital compo- nent of many institutions and establishments, the academe being one of them 1 . Eastern Samar State University is the only university in the province, composed of 5 campuses; the university aims to provide excellent and quality education to its primary stakeholders, the students. An average student accesses the internet from an internet café located in various places in the provinces’ capital city, Borongan City. Tose who live in remote areas have to travel to the city just to access a more stable internet connection. Te slow internet connection impeded the university from implementing technologies requiring a speedy internet connection. Presently, the provinces internet connectivity has improved from 2G to 3G and even 4G in other places, this is primarily due to the improvements made by the top internet service providers of the country 2 . Tese improve- ments prompted the researcher to implement an E-learning site that can be accessed by students with or without an internet connection and assess the challenges the students encountered during the implementation of the e-learning platform thru a focused group interview. E-learning is the application of digital technology and communication to improve the teaching –learning process 3 . 2. Objective With the improved internet service in place 2 , the researcher aimed to optimize MOODLE CMS in implementing an