Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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 media Including the internet and with software 
applications which can be navigated by a general application in coordination with all government 
agencies and instrumentalities. 
This bill seeks to create Transcendent Unified Government Mobile Application (TUGMA) which 
shall be an online comprehensive portal of each government agency and instrumentality designed 
to facilitate the acquisition of government information, services or some other benefit. It shall 
provide users with basic things 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. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
June 14, 2021
3:16 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
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 Senate and 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”. 
Section 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 media 
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. 
Section 3. Government Mobile Application Defined. – 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 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. 
Section 4. Government Mobile Applications Steering Committee. – There is hereby 
established a Steering Committee composed of the following members: 
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a) Secretary of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), as 
Chairperson; 
b) National Statistician and Head of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); and 
c) Commissioner of the National Privacy Commission (NPC) and representatives from the 
following agencies: 
d) Philippine 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); 
l) 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 Secretariat for purposes of assisting the 
Steering Committee in monitoring compliance and conducting periodic reviews. 
 
Section 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 well 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. 


 
Section 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; 
e) Intelligibility; 
f) Correctness; 
g) Dependability; 
h) Efficiency; 
i) Adaptability; 
j) Multi-lingual functionality; 
k) Wide-compatibility and interoperability; and 
l) Any other standard or quality that will be set by the Steering Committee, which shall be 
consistent with this Act. 
Section 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. 
 
Section 8. Transcendent Unified Government Mobile Application. – The Transcendent 
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 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. 
 
Section 9. 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. 
 
Section 10. 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; 
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 extend 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 process. 
Section 11. 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. 
 
Section 12. 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. 
 
Section 13. 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. 
  
Section 14. 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 violate 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.  


Section 15. 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. 
 
Section 16. 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.  
 
Section 17. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, or parts or provisions thereof which are not affected shall continue to remain in full 
force and effect.  
 
Section 18. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication In the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,