Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The COVID-19 pandemic paved the move towards digitized government transactions to 
reduce contact and prevent further contagion. Digital transformation through the use of ICT, 
to stay functional in the midst of the health crisis, has now become a public sector imperative. 
Through digital technologies, people can easily access government services through various 
government portals and transact via e-services. This is most welcome even after COVID-19 
ceases to be a public health emergency. Digital transformation of government transactions 
can improve the quality of service delivery, improve the efficiency of public institutions, reach 
large numbers of people, promote transparency and accountability, facilitate electronic 
interaction and participation, and even mitigate corruption. 
The local government units can take advantage of this being at the forefront of service delivery. 
This bill proposes the mandatory appointment of an Information and Communications 
Technology Officer (ICTO) who will act as the overall officer in charge of ICT concerns of the 
municipality, city, or province, including the development, adoption, deployment, 
improvement, and maintenance of ICT technologies, platforms, and systems.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is most earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” ENCISO VIII 
September 13, 2022
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION CAPACITY OF 
ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Local Information and 
Communications Technology Officer Act."  
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State to 
develop, harness, and integrate information and communication technology across all 
levels of local government units in the country to ensure transparent, accountable, 
efficient and participatory governance. Pursuant to this policy, the State shall provide 
for a local government position that will be responsible and accountable for the 
implementation of digital transformation in the local government units.  
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
a) Digitization - refers to the technical conversion of physical, analog originals to digital
copies by means of electronic devices; 
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b) Digitalization - refers to the adoption of digital technologies to upgrade business 
processes and models in order to create better ways of providing service and obtaining 
greater benefits;  
 
c) Digital Transformation - refers to cultural, organizational and operational change of 
an organization, industry or ecosystem through a smart integration of digital 
technologies, processes and competencies across all levels and functions in a staged 
and strategic way;  
 
d) Digital skills - refer to a range of skills, encompassing a combination of behaviors, 
expertise, know-how, work habits, character traits, dispositions, and critical 
understanding on the use of digital devices, communication applications, and 
networks to access and manage information;  
 
e) Digital services - refer to public or private services that can be delivered through 
digital communication, such as Internet, mobile phone network that might include 
delivery of digital information, data or content or transactional services;  
 
f) Digital technology - refers to any product or service that can be used to create, view, 
distribute, modify, store, retrieve, transmit, and receive information electronically in a 
digital form such as personal computers and devices like desktop, laptop, netbook, 
tablet computer, smart phones, games consoles, media players, e-book readers, as 
well as digital television, robots, personal assistant smart devices, and smart boards;  
 
g) Digital tools- refer to technologies used for a given purpose or for carrying out a 
particular function of information processing, communication, content creation, safety 
or problem solving.  
 
h) E-readiness (electronic readiness) - refers to a measure of the degree to which a 
country is prepared to partake in electronic activities and, thus, benefit from ICT in 
education.  
 


i) Innovation - refers to the creation of new ideas using new or existing technologies 
that results in the development of new or improved products, processes, or services, 
which are then spread or transferred across the market. 
 
SECTION 4. Section 443 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local 
Government Code of 1991, hereinafter referred to as the "Code", is hereby amended 
to read as follows:  
 
"Sec. 443. Officials of the Municipal Government.  
 
(a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice-
mayor, sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the sangguniang 
bayan, a municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, 
a municipal budget officer, a municipal planning and development 
coordinator, a municipal engineer/building official, a municipal health officer 
and a municipal civil registrar [;]. A MUNICIPAL INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER (ICTO) SHALL ALSO BE 
APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT THE MUNICIPALITY HAS THE OPTION 
TO APPOINT AN ICTO OR MERGE SUCH POSITION TO AN EXISTING 
POSITION OR OFFICIAL IN A RELATED OFFICE, UNIT OR 
DEPARTMENT IN THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT: PROVIDED, 
FURTHER, THAT IF THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL APPOINT AN ICTO, 
THE MUNICIPALITY HAS THE OPTION TO SET THE RANK, 
REMUNERATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE MUNICIPAL 
ICTO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.  
"(b) XXX  
"(c) XXX  
"(d) XXX  
"(e) XXX  
 
SECTION 5.  Section 454 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:  
 
"Sec. 454. Officials of the City Government. 


 (b)There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, sangguniang 
panlungsod members, a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, a city 
treasurer, a city assessor, a city accountant, a city budget officer, a city 
planning and development coordinator, a city engineer, a city health officer, 
a city civil registrar, a city administrator, a city legal officer, a city 
veterinarian, a city social welfare and development officer, and a city 
general services officer [;]. A CITY ICTO SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED: 
PROVIDED, THATTHE CITY HAS THE OPTION TO APPOINT AN ICTO 
OR MERGE SUCH POSITION TO AN EXISTING POSITION OR 
OFFICIAL IN A RELATED OFFICE, UNIT OR DEPARTMENT IN THE 
CITY GOVERNMENT: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IF THE CITY 
SHALL APPOINT AN ICTO, THE CITY HAS THE OPTION TO SET THE 
RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE CITY 
ICTO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.  
"(b) XXX  
"(c) XXX  
"(d) XXX  
"(e) XXX  
 
SECTION 6. Section 463 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:  
 
"Sec. 463. Officials of the Provincial Government (c) There shall be in each 
province a governor, a vice-governor, members of the sangguniang 
panlalawigan, a secretary to the sangguniang panlalawigan, a provincial 
treasurer, a provincial assessor, a provincial accountant, a provincial 
engineer, a provincial budget officer, a provincial planning and development 
coordinator, a provincial legal officer, a provincial administrator, a provincial 
health officer, a provincial social welfare and development officer, a 
provincial general services officer, a provincial agriculturist, and a provincial 
veterinarian, [;]. A PROVINCIAL ICTO SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED: 
PROVIDED, THAT THE PROVINCE HAS THE OPTION TO APPOINT AN 
ICTO OR MERGE SUCH POSITION TO AN EXISTING POSITION OR 
OFFICIAL IN A RELATED OFFICE, UNIT OR DEPARTMENT IN THE 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IF THE 


PROVINCE SHALL APPOINT AN ICTO, THE PROVINCE HAS THE 
OPTION TO SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER 
EMOLUMENTS OF THE PROVINCIAL ICTO SUBJECT TO EXISTING 
LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.  
"(b) XXX  
"(c) XXX  
"(d) XXX   
"(e) XXX  
 
SECTION 7. A new Section 491-A shall be inserted after Section 491 of the Code to 
read as follows:  
 
ARTICLE XXI 
THE LOCAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER 
 
SECTION 491-A. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES. –  
(A) NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED AS INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER UNLESS HE OR SHE IS A 
CITIZEN OF THE  PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
UNIT CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, A HOLDER OF A 
COLLEGE 
DEGREE 
ON 
INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTER SCIENCE, COMPUTER ENGINEERING, DATA 
SCIENCE, ELECTRONICS  AND COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING OR 
OTHER 
COURSES 
DIRECTLY 
RELEVANT 
TO 
ANY 
OF 
THE 
AFOREMENTIONED COURSES FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR 
UNIVERSITY, AND A FIRST GRADE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS 
EQUIVALENT. HE OR SHE MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN 
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND RELATED 
EXPERIENCES FOR AT LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE 
PROVINCE OR CITY, OR AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE 
MUNICIPALITY.  
 


THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER SHALL BE MANDATORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL, 
CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.  
 
(B) THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER 
SHALL:  
 
(1) FORMULATE MEASURES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE 
SANGGUNIAN AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT 
TO THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, IN CARRYING OUT MEASURES TO 
ENSURE THE DIGITIZATION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, DIGITALIZATION 
OF 
GOVERNMENT 
PROCESS 
AND 
OVERALL 
DIGITAL 
TRANSFORMATION OF GOVERNMENT  
 
(2) DEVELOP PLANS AND STRATEGIES AND UPON APPROVAL THEREOF 
BY 
THE 
LOCAL 
CHIEF 
EXECUTIVE 
IMPLEMENT 
THE 
SAME, 
PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH DEVELOPING, 
HARNESSING, INTEGRATING AND UTILIZING INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY 
FOR 
THE 
DIGITAL 
TRANSFORMATION OF GOVERNMENT AND RELEVANT PURPOSES;  
 
(3) IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS, THE 
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER SHALL:  
 
(i) TAKE CUSTODY OF AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL 
PROPERTIES, REAL OR PERSONAL, OWNED BY THE LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNIT AND THOSE GRANTED TO IT IN THE FORM 
OF DONATION, REPARATION, ASSISTANCE AND COUNTERPART 
OF JOINT PROJECTS;  
 
(ii) WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, 
ASSIGN RESOURCES TO LOCAL OFFICIALS OR OTHER PUBLIC 
OFFICIALS, WHO BY LAW, ARE ENTITLED TO SUCH SPACES;  


(iii) RECOMMEND TO THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE 
REASONABLE PURCHASE, LEASE OR RENTAL RATES OF DIGITAL 
EQUIPMENT 
FOR 
THE 
IMPLEMENTATION 
OF 
DIGITAL 
TRANSFORMATION;  
 
(iv) 
DEVELOP, 
MAINTAIN 
AND 
SUPERVISE 
ALL 
OTHER 
INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY 
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT;  
 
(v) COLLATE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION REGARDING 
INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY 
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO 
THE PUBLIC,  
 
(vi) PERFORM DATABASE AND RECORD MANAGEMENT WITH 
RESPECT TO RECORDS OF OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT; AND  
 
(vii) 
PERFORM 
ALL 
OTHER 
FUNCTIONS 
PERTAINING 
INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY 
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND 
ENFORCE POLICIES IN RELATION THERETO;  
 
(4) BE IN THE FRONTLINE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY 
PROGRAMS 
AND 
SERVICES 
OF 
THE 
LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE SECTOR;  
 
(5) DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE ALL PROGRAMS AIMED AT 
ENSURING THAT ALL PERSONNEL UNDER HIS OR HER SUPERVISION 
INCLUDING HIMSELF OR HERSELF ARE CONSTANTLY TRAINED OR 
EXPOSED TO KNOWLEDGE IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION 
TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER RELEVANT AREAS;  
 


(6) RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIAN AND ADVISE THE LOCAL CHIEF 
EXECUTIVE, ON ALL OTHER MATTERS RELATIVE TO INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY; AND  
 
(C) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER DUTIES 
AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE."  
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act shall be 
declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are 
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.  
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,