Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative PABLO JOHN F. GARCIA     
___________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The efficient, speedy, and inexpensive provision of government services and 
information is a goal which every sovereignty must aspire to achieve, especially during 
this age of lightspeed global telecommunications. 
The advent of smartphones and mobile applications has certainly changed the 
world forever. Statista, a German statistics company, reports that the Philippines had 
around 45.91 million smartphone users in 20211 – a little more than two smartphones 
for every five Filipinos. Filipinos spend nearly half the year online and more than a third 
of that time is spent on social media, according to a Brussels-based marketing and 
advertising consultant Sortlist.2 Filipinos spend 10 hours, 56 min-utes per day online 
or 166 days per year and of this time, four hours and 15 minutes are spent on social 
media per day which is equivalent to 65 days in a year.3 
This placed the Philippines as the country that spends the most time online and 
on social media—Sortlist estimates that 67 percent of the country’s population use the 
internet.4 
Not taking advantage of these existing realities to facilitate wider access to 
government services would be a travesty. Inadequate access to information, 
administrative red tape, and service inefficiency are problems which must be 
addressed in every way possible.  
1 S. O'Dea, Statista, Number of smartphone users by leading countries in 2021 (in millions), available 
at https://www.statista.com/statistics/748053/worldwide-top-countries-smartphone-users/. 
2 Cai Ordinario, Business Mirror,  Pinoys spend most time online, on social media, available at 
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/01/31/pinoys-spend-most-time-online-on-social-media/. 
3 Id. 
4 Id, 
July 4, 2022 
10:30 am
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This bill aims to establish one general government mobile application, called 
“Tugma” (Transcendent Unified Government Mobile Application), for the benefit of all 
FIlipinos so that government services and information may be made available to them 
quickly at the tap of a screen or the click of a button. The consolidation of existing 
government gateways into a comprehensive application would undoubtedly reduce 
inefficiency and save the nation valuable resources as well. The measure likewise 
desires to set up common standards for all government applications to observe in 
addition to establishing an integrated framework. 
The bill envisions government applications to be a rich user-friendly multimedia 
experience filled with resources on major frontline government services. “Tugma” is 
sought to be a comprehensive portal which empowers users with ease of access and 
by being a treasure trove of information. It focuses on open data and content, user-
friendliness, ease of data exchange, and user safety and privacy. 
The Constitution provides that the State “shall give priority to education, science 
and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, 
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development”5 and 
“recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.”6 
Likewise it extols that, “Science and technology are essential for national development 
and progress. The State shall give priority to research and development, invention, 
innovation, and their utilization [x x x].”7 
The proposed Government Mobile Applications Act embodies these ideals. 
The urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Rep. PABLO JOHN F. GARCIA 
3rd District, Province of Cebu 
5 CONST. art. II, § 17. 
6 CONST. art. II, § 24. 
7 CONST. art. XIV, § 10. 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative PABLO JOHN F. GARCIA     
___________________________________________________________________ 
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 House of Representatives and the Senate of the Congress of the 
Philippines in session assembled: 
Section 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Government Mobile 
Applications Act of 2020.” 
Section 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - The State values the efficient, speedy, 
and inexpensive provision of local and national government services to all its 
constituents. The State likewise values the ready accessibility and reliability of 
government information and resources. It is thus the policy of the State to exert utmost 
efforts in democratizing information, streamlining transactions, and ensuring that all 
major and frontline government services are available to the Filipino people via various 
media such as the internet through software applications which can be navigated by a 
general application as created herein, in coordination with all government agencies 
and instrumentalities.  
The State values open data and content, user-friendliness, ease of data 
exchange, and user safety and privacy in the pursuit of these ideals. 
Section 3. 
Government Mobile Application Defined. - A government 
mobile application (“GMA”) is hereby 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.  
1022


A GMA may be agency-centric or citizen-centric. Agency-centric GMAs are 
applications intended for the internal use of a government agency or instrumentally 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: 
 
(d) 
Philippines Communications Operations Office (“PCOO”); 
 
(e) 
Department of Science and Technology (“DOST”); 
 
(f) 
Department of Interior and Local Government (“DILG”); 
 
(g) 
Department of Budget and Management (“DBM”); 
 
(h) 
Department of Foreign Affairs (“DFA”); 
 
(i) 
Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”); 
 
(j) 
Department of Tourism (“DOT”); 
 
(k) 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (“DSWD”); 
 
(l) 
Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”); 
 
(m) 
Department of Justice (“DOJ”); and 
 
(n) 
Department of Finance (“DOF”) 
 
Section 5. 
Functions of the Steering Committee. - The Steering 
Committee shall: 
 


(a) 
Develop and implement policies for GMAs to pursue within the 
framework of Philippine law; 
 
(b) 
Detail the uniform standards to be observed by all GMAs and 
digital service platforms, guided by the principles enunciated in this Act; 
  
(c) 
Prescribe what pieces of information and interface GMAs shall 
contain and display; 
 
(d) 
Serve as the overall implementing body of the Transcendent 
Unified Government Mobile Application, as will be hereinafter created; 
 
(e) 
Monitor and require compliance from government agencies and 
centers with respect to the policies, guidelines, and standards prescribed by the 
Steering Committee;  
 
(f) 
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 
 
(g) 
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) 
Excellent User Interface and User Experience; 
 
(c) 
Ease of internal and external data exchange or interoperability;  
 
(d) 
User safety and privacy;  
 
(e) 
Economical use of budget and resources; 
 
(f) 
Intelligibility; 
 
(g) 
Correctness; 
 
(h) 
Dependability; 
 
(i) 
Efficiency; 
 


(j) 
Adaptability; 
 
(k) 
Wide-compatibility; 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 (“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, complete payments, provide information, and extend any other 
beneficial use made possible through the implementation of modern technologies and 
systems. 
 
Section 9. 
Lead Developer. - The Department of Information and 
Communication Technology (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 governments, and their frontline programs such as the services 
that they offer, their contact information, addresses, service requirements, and 
citizen’s charters, among others; 
 
(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 and/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 into itself, 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/or suggestions concerning governmental functions; and 
 
(h) 
Fulfill any other function the Steering Committee may hereinafter 
provide consistent with the aforementioned declaration of policy. 
 
 
Section 11. Philippine Identification System Integration. - The Philippine 
Identification System, as established by Republic Act No. 11055, shall be integrated 
with Tugma and shall form as the basis for registering and/or authenticating the identity 
of a particular person for purposes of using 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 
that are integrated into Tugma; and 
(d) 
Produce regularly updated content for integration with Tugma 


 
Section 13. Appropriation. - Congress shall appropriate the amount of Fifty 
Million pesos (P50,000,000.00) for the initial implementation of this Act. After which, 
the amount necessary to carry out the Program is hereby authorized  to  be  
appropriated  under  the  regular  budget  of  DICT. 
 
Section 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Steering 
Committee shall convene within sixty  (60)  days  from  the  effectivity  of  this  Act  and 
shall promulgate  the necessary implementing rules and regulations within six (6) 
months thereafter. 
Section 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules, regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
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. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,