Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.________ 
Introduced by Representative Emmanuel L. Iway 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO APPROPRIATE NO 
LESS THAN FOUR PERCENT (4%) OF ITS NATIONAL TAX ALLOTMENT 
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INFORMATION 
AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991”  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill mandates the local government units to appropriate no less than four 
percent (4%) of their national tax allotment for the development and implementation 
of information and communications technology (ICT) programs and projects within 
their respective areas of jurisdiction.   
Section 24, Article II (Declaration of Principles and State Policies) of the 1987 
Constitution provides that “The State recognizes the vital role of communication and 
information in nation-building.”  This provision enunciates the basis for prioritizing 
ICT development and utilization across various sectors, including local government 
units.   
During this era of rapid technological advancement and a technology-driven 
world, access to timely, accurate, and reliable information is not just a convenience 
but a necessity. ICT programs and projects are essential tools for empowering 
individuals, organizations, and communities to participate fully in the digital economy, 
improve service delivery, and promote inclusive development.  However, despite the 
global advances in technology, many still lack access to reliable internet, digital 
literacy and modern technology communication tools.  ICT programs can bridge this 
August 18, 2025
3:20 pm
3807




Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.________ 
Introduced by Representative Emmanuel L. Iway 
AN ACT 
1 
MANDATING 
THE 
LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT 
UNITS 
TO 
2 
APPROPRIATE NO LESS THAN FOUR PERCENT (4%) OF ITS 
3 
NATIONAL TAX ALLOTMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND 
4 
IMPLEMENTATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
5 
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, AMENDING FOR THE 
6 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
7 
KNOWN AS THE “LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991”  
8 
9 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
10 
Congress assembled: 
11 
12 
SECTION 1.  A new section denominated as Section 287-A is hereby 
13 
inserted after Section 287 of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, otherwise 
14 
known as the “Local Government Code of 1991,” to read as follows: 
15 
“SECTION 
287-A. 
 
INFORMATION 
AND 
16 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.  – 
17 
EACH LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT SHALL APPROPRIATE IN 
18 
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ITS ANNUAL BUDGET NO LESS THAN FOUR PERCENT (4%) OF 
1 
ITS NATIONAL TAX ALLOTMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT 
2 
AND 
IMPLEMENTATION 
OF 
INFORMATION 
AND 
3 
COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY 
PROGRAMS 
AND 
4 
PROJECTS. 
5 
“IN IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
6 
TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, EACH LOCAL 
7 
GOVERNMENT UNIT SHALL ADHERE TO THE NATIONAL 
8 
INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY 
9 
DEVELOPMENT AGENDA AND E-GOVERNMENT MASTER PLAN 
10 
OF 
THE 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
INFORMATION 
AND 
11 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND ESTABLISH THEIR 
12 
OWN ELECTRONIC LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT SYSTEM.” 
13 
 
SEC. 2.  Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the 
14 
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government shall, in coordination with the 
15 
Secretaries of Information and Communications Technology, and Budget and 
16 
Management, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
17 
implementation of this Act.  
18 
SEC. 3.  All laws, rules, regulations, presidential decrees, and other 
19 
issuances inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are repealed or 
20 
amended accordingly. 
21 


SEC. 4.   This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
1 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
2 
 
Approved,   
3