Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES LORD ALLAN JAY VELASCO AND 
KRISTINE SINGSON MEEHAN 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
TRANSCENDENT 
UNIFIED 
GOVERNMENT 
MOBILE 
APPLICATION FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES, SETTING A FRAMEWORK AND 
COMMON STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENT MOBILE APPLICATIONS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This measure aims to provide efficient, speedy, and inexpensive local and national 
government services to all and to ensure the accessibility and reliability of government 
information and resources. To achieve these goals, it is inevitable that we exert utmost efforts 
in democratizing information, streamlining transactions, and ensuring that Filipinos have ready 
access to all major and frontline government services through various platforms including the 
internet. 
The value of open data and content, usability and user experience, and ease of data 
exchange cannot be overemphasized, but user safety through appropriate technical measures, 
and upholding data privacy rights in the pursuit of these ideals must remain a priority. 
To help achieve the bill’s objectives, a general government mobile application, called 
“Tugma” (Transcendent Unified Government Mobile Application), shall be created. With 
this app, government services and information will be readily available to Filipinos, literally 
at the tip of our fingers. Not only would this increase efficiency resulting in fiscal savings; 
this may even also set the bar for all government apps. Through Tugma, Filipinos are 
provided ready access to a simple and user-friendly integrated framework involving major 
frontline government services. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. LORD ALLAN JAY VELASCO 
REP. KRISTINE SINGSON MEEHAN 
November 8, 2022
3:41 pm
5944


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES LORD ALLAN JAY VELASCO AND 
KRISTINE SINGSON MEEHAN 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
TRANSCENDENT 
UNIFIED 
GOVERNMENT 
MOBILE 
APPLICATION FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES, SETTING A FRAMEWORK AND 
COMMON STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENT MOBILE APPLICATIONS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Government Mobile Applications 
Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State seeks to provide at all times efficient, speedy, and 
inexpensive local and national government services to all and ensure the accessibility and 
reliability of government information and resources. It is thus the policy of the State to exert 
utmost effort in democratizing information, streamlining transactions, and ensuring that all 
major and frontline government services are available to the Filipino people through various 
platforms including the internet and with software applications which can be navigated by a 
general application in coordination with all government agencies and instrumentalities. The 
State recognizes the value of open data and content, usability and user experience, ease of data 
exchange, and shall ensure user safety through appropriate technical measures, and uphold data 
privacy rights in the pursuit of these ideals. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. 
a. Government Mobile Application. – A government mobile application hereinafter
referred to as “GMA”, and defined as a software program created and
implemented by a government agency or instrumentality that can be run on a
mobile phone, tablet, or other similar device and is designed to provide or
facilitate the acquisition of government information, services, or some other
benefit, shall be created and utilized by each government agency and
instrumentality. A GMA may be agency-centric or citizen-centric. Agency-centric
GMAs are applications intended for the internal use of a government agency or
instrumentality to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Citizen centric GMAs
are for the general public to enable real-time public engagement and service.
b. Transcendent Unified Government Mobile Application. – The Transcendent
5944


Unified Government Mobile Application hereinafter referred to as “TUGMA”, is 
hereby created and shall be an online comprehensive portal designed to provide 
users with basic things such as the contact details, requirements, citizen’s charters, 
news, bulletins, and other helpful information about the country’s major frontline 
government services and their associated agencies. It shall also be used to redirect 
users to specific government applications, websites, or other platforms to 
streamline transactions, process requests, provide information, and extend any 
other beneficial use made possible through the implementation of modern 
technologies and systems. 
 
SEC. 4. Government Mobile Applications Steering Committee. – There is hereby established 
a Steering Committee composed of the following members: 
 
(a) 
Secretary of Department of Information and Communications 
Technology (DICT), as Chairperson; 
 
(b) 
National Statistician and Head of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); 
 
(c) 
Commissioner of the National Privacy Commission (NPC) and 
representatives from the following agencies: 
 
(d) 
Philippines Communications Operations Office (PCOO); 
 
(e) 
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning 
Office (PCDSPO); 
 
(f) 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 
 
(g) 
Department of National Defense (DND); 
 
(h) 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
 
(i) 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM); 
 
(j) 
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); 
 
(k) 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); 
 
(1) 
Department of Tourism (DOT); 
 
(m) 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); 
 
(n) 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); 
 
(o) 
Department of Justice (DOJ); and 
 
(p) 
Department of Finance (DOF). 
 
The Steering Committee may, in the exercise of its functions and as it may deem necessary, 
invite representatives from other relevant government agencies and instrumentalities to serve 


as resource persons. 
 
The DICT Secretary, as Chair of the Steering Committee and lead developer of the TUGMA, 
may designate an office within the Department to act as Secretarial for purposes of assisting 
the Steering Committee in monitoring compliance and conducting periodic reviews. 
 
SEC. 5. Functions of the Steering Committee. – The Steering Committee shall: 
 
a. 
Develop and implement policies for the creation and use of GMAs to 
pursue within the framework of Philippine law, 
 
b. 
Establish the uniform standards to be observed by all GMAs and digital 
service platforms, guided by the principles enunciated in this Act; 
 
c. 
Prescribe the information and interface GMAs shall contain and 
display; 
 
d. 
Serve as the overall implementing body of the Transcendent Unified 
Government Mobile Application (TUGMA), as will be hereinafter 
created; 
 
e. 
Conduct application security and assessment of all GMAs and digital 
service platforms that will connect to TUGMA and will access local 
government services and information; 
 
f. 
Monitor and require compliance from government agencies and centers 
with respect to the policies, guidelines, and standards prescribed by the 
Steering Committee; 
 
g. 
Conduct periodic reviews of the administration, operation, policies, 
rules, and regulations governing GMAs, and update the same in order 
to reflect the best practices and standards; and 
 
h. 
Perform other functions germane or related to the above-mentioned 
primary functions and the declared policy of this Act. 
 
SEC. 6. Uniform Standards. – In line with the declared policy of this Act, all GMAs shall 
hereby observe the following uniform standards and characteristics: 
 
a. 
Open data and content; 
 
b. 
Usability and user experience; 
 
c. 
Ease of internal and external data exchange; 
 
d. 
Economical Use of budget and resources; 
 
f. 
Intelligibility; 
 
g. 
Correctness; 


h. 
Dependability; 
 
i. 
Efficiency; 
 
j. 
Adaptability; 
 
k. 
Multi-lingual functionality; 
 
I. 
Wide-compatibility and interoperability; and 
 
m. Any other standard or quality that will be set by the Steering Committee, 
which shall be consistent with this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 7. Standardization of Data Structure. – The DICT shall prescribe a standardized 
framework of data and data infrastructure which shall be observed among government agencies 
and instrumentalities and shall facilitate the efficient exchange of data in a useful format based 
on common standards. This shall ensure that all of the data can be used reliably for different 
types of analyses and purposes, including the creation of GMAs. 
 
SEC. 8. Lead Developer. – The DICT shall be the lead agency tasked with the design, 
development, implementation, distribution, maintenance, and improvement of TUGMA. In 
line with the agency’s “Philippine Digital Transformation Strategy 2022”, the creation of 
TUGMA shall pave way to delivering an environment wherein government agencies will be 
encouraged and incentivized to create their own applications for all major frontline services 
and collaborate in the context of their respective functions and objectives. 
 
SEC. 9. Services and Features of TUGMA. – TUGMA shall: 
 
a. 
Provide information and details regarding the different national 
agencies, local government units, and their frontline programs 
including the services that they offer, their contact information, 
addresses, service requirements, and citizen’s charters; 
 
b. 
Enable its users to apply, register, or otherwise avail of frontline 
government services and other facilities by being directed to specific 
applications, websites, or platforms that directly cater to their needs; 
 
c. 
Facilitate government transactions by streamlining appointments with 
government offices and the processing of documents, papers, reports, 
certificates, deeds, information, and other requests; 
 
d. 
Contain or provide access to information regarding available public 
services, facilities, functions, and other benefits of the government; 
 
e. 
Produce a versatile interface with a focus on maximizing usability and 
enriching user experience; 
 
f. 
Reduce unnecessary expenditures by consolidating, if deemed prudent 


by the Steering Committee, various services and GMAs already being 
provided; 
 
g. 
Function as an avenue wherein one may raise complaints, comments, 
and suggestions concerning governmental functions; and 
 
h. 
Fulfill any other function the Steering Committee may hereinafter 
provide consistent with the aforementioned declaration of policy; and 
 
i. 
Provide users with information regarding the purpose and extent of the 
processing of their personal data in relation to their transactions, 
including where applicable, any data sharing, profiling, direct 
marketing, or the existence of automated decision-making, as well as 
any other authorized further processing. 
 
SEC. 10. Philippine Identification System Integration. – The Philippine Identification 
System, as established by Republic Act No. 11055 otherwise known as the Philippine 
Identification System Act, shall be integrated with TUGMA and shall form as the basis for 
registering and authenticating the identity of a particular person for purposes of using the 
TUGMA and to ensure security and privacy. 
 
SEC. 11. National Government Portal Integration. – The National Government Portal (NGP) 
of the DICT is hereby integrated, combined, or otherwise absorbed by TUGMA and shall thus 
also include access to local government services and information. To ensure maximum reach, 
access, and usability, the DICT shall make TUGMA available on a website and as a desktop 
application, aside from the mobile interface. 
 
Government agencies and instrumentalities, if directed by the Steering Committee, shall: 
 
a. 
Integrate their online services and GMAs with TUGMA; 
b. 
Form or designate an agency web administration team from permanent 
personnel; 
c. 
Operate, maintain, and manage their respective online services 
integrated into the NGP; and, 
d. 
Produce regularly updated content for integration with TUGMA. 
 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. – The funding requirements for the initial implementation of this 
Act shall be charged against the current year's budget of the DICT. Thereafter, it shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 13. Penal Clause. – Any unauthorized, fraudulent or unlawful use of data and 
information in all GMAs and digital service platforms that will connect to TUGMA and anyone 
who willfully violates any provision of this Act shall be held liable under the pertinent 
provisions of the Data Privacy Act (RA 10173), Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175), and 
other relevant laws. 
 
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act. the Steering Committee shall convene and shall promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 


SEC. 15. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or 
invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected shall continue to remain in full 
force and effect. 
 
 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees executive order, rules and regulations, 
or parts or provisions thereof which are not affected shall continue to remain in full force and 
effect. 
 
SEC. 17. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,