Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
       EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State recognizes the need of government services to be readily available 
and accessible to all Filipinos. These government services must be made available at 
an inexpensive rate and must be given in a time bound manner.  
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was evident at how government services 
can be made possible through online means. A lot of Local Government Units have 
made their services available through online and digital means. Therefore allowing 
for a more efficient and faster processing of documents. 
The bill seeks to establish a Transcendent Unified Government Mobile 
Application (TUGMA). It is designed to make government services and information 
more accessible. The unified portal in which TUGMA will operate will allow users to 
access government services and information in a uniform experience. This effort is in 
line with the national government’s strategy of strengthening the presence of the 
government and making it more accessible to Filipinos.  
This bill was first filed by Rep. Garcia in the 18th Congress. This bill is a copy 
of the Third Reading Copy that was transmitted to the Senate in the 18th Congress.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
August 30, 2022
8:02 am
4142


 Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  _________ 
Introduced by Representative 
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
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 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 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 with 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.  
4142


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 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.  
SECTION 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); 
(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 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. 
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-compatability and inoperability; 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 the 
“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.  
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 the 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 in 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 of the Steering Committee may here and after 
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.  
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 and agency web administration team from permanent 
personnel; 
c. Operate, maintain, and manage their respective online services integrated into 
the NGP; and 
d. Produce regularly update 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, and 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.  
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 order, 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.