Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS,
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NODD AD

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

|. 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 £-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;

lll, 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 concemed;


(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 intemational bodies, in
coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
and other institutions concemed;

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
concemed, 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 Lt. ROMERO Ph.D om . PINEDA,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 55 45

Introduced by REP. 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
fo 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;

(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 (ICT-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;

G) 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. - Alll laws, decrees, executive orders,
ules 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,