Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
  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); 
II. Improved Public Access
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(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; 
III. 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. 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
      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; 
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(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; 
(c) 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 
(f) 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; 
(j) 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 (₱500,000,000.00) 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,