Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DATE: oAN 19 206
Quezon City, Metro Manila APSE,

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es TIME:_l:4 2m

18™ CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 8420

Introduced by Representative RODRIGO A. ABELLANOSA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic that resulted in worldwide lockdowns has
underscored the need for online connectivity and digital acumen in order to avoid paralysis of
economic and all other surrounding activities. Unfortunately, this has also highlighted the
extreme lack of preparedness and capacity of our country in this field. As we were forced to
implement drastic measures to improve our digital infrastructure, we must also make sure that
we have sufficient people who are equipped to manage such infrastructure, as well as the ability
to design and employ the necessary processes for a full digital transformation.

This bill seeks to amend Republic Act 7160, entitled, An Act Providing for the Local
Government Code of 1991, inserting provisions that will guarantee the appointment of an adept
Information Communications Technology Officer in each local government unit to address

such concern.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

“aN
Cos
RODRIGO A. ABELLANOSA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

18™ CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8420

Introduced by Representative RODRIGO A. ABELLANOSA

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 of 2020."

SEC. 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, 6 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.

SEC. 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;

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;

) 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;


4d) 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

SEC. 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 cach 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.

“XXX”
SEC. 5. Section 454 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:


"Sec. 454. Officials of the City Government

(a) 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.

SEC. 6. Section 463 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 463. Officials of the Provincial Government

(a) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice-governor, members of
the sangguniang panlalawigan, a secretary to the sangguniang
pantalawigan, 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 officcr, 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.

"XXX?

SEC. 7. Title V of the Code is hereby amended by adding a new article and a new section at the

end thercof to be denominated as Article XXI and Scction 491 respectively, to read as follows:
“ARTICLE XXI

THE LOCAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
OFFICER

“SECTION 491. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES. —

4


(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 25
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

(©) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM 2 SUCH

OTHER DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE 3 PRESCRIBED

BY LAW OR ORDINANCE."


SEC. 8. Section 491 is hereby renumbered as Section 492 and all subsequent sections of the
Code are hereby renumbered accordingly.

SEC. 9. 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.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 8 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.

SEC. 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,