Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL-NO. 1182

Introduced by Representatives Michael L. Romero and
Enrico A. Pineda

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is imperative that the state shall prioritize and implement the mandates of the
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT):

I. Policy and Planning

(1) Formulate, recommend and implement national policies,
plans, programs and guidelines that will promote the
development and use of ICT with due consideration to the
advantages of convergence and emerging technologies;

(2) Formulate policies and initiatives, in coordination with the
Department of Education (DepED). The Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to develop and
promote ICT in education consistent with the national goals
and objectives., and responsive to the human resource needs
of the ICT and ICT-ES sectors;

(3) Provide an integrated framework in order to optimize all
government ICT resources and networks for the identification
and prioritization of all E-Government systems and
applications as provided for m the E-Government Masterplan
and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP);

Il. Improved Public Access


(4) Prescribe rules and regulations for the establishment,
operation and maintenance of ICT infrastructures in unserved
and underserved areas, in consultation with the local
government units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs).
private sector, and the academe;

(5) Establish a free internet service that can be accessed in
government offices and public areas using the most cost-
effective telecommunications technology, through partnership
with private service providers as may be necessary;

Ill. Resource-Sharing and Capacity-Building

(6) Harmonize and coordinate all national ICT plans and
initiatives to ensure knowledge, information and resource-
sharing, database-building and agency networking linkages
among government agencies, consistent with E-Government
objectives in particular, and national objectives in general;

(7) Ensure the development and protection of integrated
government ICT infrastructures and designs, taking into
consideration the inventory of existing manpower, plans,
programs, software, hardware, and installed systems:

(8) Assist and provide technical expertise to government
agencies in the development of guidelines in the enforcement
and administration of laws, standards, rules, and regulations
governing ICT;

(9) Assess, review and support ICT research and development
programs of the government in coordination with the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other
institutions concerned;

(10) Prescribe the personnel qualifications and other
qualification standards essential to the effective development
and operation of government ICT infrastructures and systems;

(11) Develop programs that would enhance the career
advancement opportunities of ICT workers in government;

(12) Assist in the dissemination of vital information essential
to disaster risk reduction through the use of ICT:


(13) Represent and negotiate for Philippine interest on matters
pertaining to ICT in international bodies, in coordination with

the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other institutions
concerned;

IV. Consumer Protection and Industry Development

(14) Ensure and protect the rights and welfare of consumers
and business users to privacy, security and confidentiality in
matters relating to ICT, in coordination with agencies

concerned, the private sector and relevant international
bodies;

(15) Support the promotion of trade and investment
opportunities in the ICT and ICT-ES sectors, in coordination
with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other
relevant government agencies and the private sector;

(16) Establish guidelines for public-private partnerships in

the implementation of ICT projects for government agencies;
and

(17) Promote strategic partnerships and alliances between
and among local and international ICT, research and
development, educational and training institutions, to speed
up industry growth and enhance competitiveness of
Philippine workers, firms, and small and medium enterprises
in the global markets for ICT and ICT-ES.

This House Bill seeks to provide additional organizational and operational
funding to promote the imposition and Implement laws, policies, plans,

programs, projects, rules and regulations of the DICT; and to provide efficient
and effective services to the Filipino people.

Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.
J

a

Ge -



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 1182

Introduced by Representatives Michael L. Romero and
Enrico A. Pineda

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL AND
OPERATIONAL FUNDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT),
TO PROMOTE COST-EFFICIENT ICT INFRASTRUCTURES AND
PROJECTS, TO FOSTER GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines
in congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared by the
state to appropriate additional organizational and operational funding for

the Department of Information and Communications technology
The state shall hereby recognize

(a) The vital role of information and communication in nation:

building;


(b) To ensure the provision of © strategic, reliable, cost-
efficient and. citizen-centric information and communications

technology (ICT) infrastructure, systems and resources as

instruments of good governance and global competitiveness;

(ce) To ensure universal access to quality, affordable, reliable

and secure Id’ services;

{d) To promote the development and widespread use of
emerging ICT and foster and accelerate the convergence of ICT
and ICT-enabled facilities;

(e) To ensure the availability and accessibility of ICT services

in areas not adequately served by the private sector

(8 To foster an ICT sector policy environment that will promote
a broad market-led development of the ICT and ICT-enabled
services (1CT-ES) sectors, a level playing field, partnership
between the public and private sectors, strategic alliance with
foreign investors and balanced investments between high-
growth and economically-depressed areas;

(g) To promote and assist the development of local ICT
content, applications and services which may include support
for ICT-based start-up enterprises through _ strategic
partnerships;

(h) To promote the use of ICT for the enhancement of key
public services, such as education, public health and safety,

revenue generation, and socio-civic purposes;


(i) To encourage the use of ICT for the development and
promotion of the country’s arts and culture, tourism and
national identity;

(i) To promote digital literacy, ICT expertise, and knowledge-
building among citizens to enable them to participate and

compete in an evolving ICT age;

(k) To empower, through the use of ICT, the disadvantaged
segments of the population, including the elderly, persons

with disabilities and indigenous and minority groups;

(l) To ensure the rights of individuals to privacy and
confidentiality of their personal information;

(m) To ensure the security of critical ICT infrastructures
including information assets of the government, individuals

and businesses; and

{n) To provide oversight over agencies governing and
regulating the ICT sector and ensure consumer protection and
welfare, data privacy and security, foster competition and the
growth of the ICT sector.

Additional requirements shall be charged to the appropriations
under the current General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SECTION 2. Appropriations - The amount of Five hundred million
pesos (P500,000,000.00) shall hereby be appropriated as additional
organizational and operational funding to carry-out the mandates of the

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).


Thereafter, such sum as may be needed for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act (GAA)

SECTION 3. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. - The
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this
Act shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate

the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.

SECTION 4. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the

provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly,

SECTION 5. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If, for any reason, any
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other

sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 6. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. ~ This Act shall take effect
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at

least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes
earlier.

Approved,