EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
2207
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
A
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
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.
There are two undeniable facts - one, gadgets, specifically smart phones, are 
indispensable in our daily lives and two, given all the technological innovations, we 
want instant gratification - we always want instant and readily-available information. 
Our world certainly demands digital transformation which will provide efficiency gains 
by capitalizing on existing and emerging technology. According to a report, the 
number of smartphone users in the Philippines in 2019 is around 74 million and it is 
forecasted to be around 90 million by 2025. In the third quarter of 2020, 98.6% of 
the adult population used smartphones as a digital device. Further, there were 73.91 
million internet users in the Philippines in January 2021. Given these, what the 
government needs to do is to establish a mobile application which will benefit us all in


accessing government services. This is an efficient method of sharing data and 
information quickiy.
Thus, 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.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
M. LAPID
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2207
¥
BILLS
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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."
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Section 2. Declaration of Policy, - The State seeks to provide at all times 
efficient, speedy and inexpensive iocal and national government services to ail 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.


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Section 3. Government Mobiie Application Denned. - 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:
(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);
0) 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


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(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.


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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 Mobiie 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


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systems.
Section 9. Lead Developer. - The DICT shall be the lead agency tasked with 
the design, development, implementation, distribution, maintenance, and 
improvement ofTUGMA. In line with the agency's "Philippine Digital Transformation 
Strategy 2022", the creation ofTUGMA 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


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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. Pena!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


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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/