Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
1" Regular Session

4499

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: REP. ARNOLFO “ARNIE” A. TEVES, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In these days where almost everyone is interconnected technologically and
digitally the need for an efficient and faster government transaction is more pressing,
The acceleration of digital transformation at various levels of the government has been
accelerated by a confluence of factors and thig can never be truer especially at this,
time of digital age.

While various government agencies have already started to adopt intemet
based services, increasing expectations for convenient access to government services
bolstered by digital natives and digitally aware citizens and c rising need to manage
service delivery costs, the efforts of the government must and should be linked
together.

The passage of this Bill will make government services available to people who
‘are using the internet and mobile technologies which will consequently bypass the
physical infrastructure as well as increase the accountability throughout the system.

It cannot be denied that the new normal demands that the government must
adapt to changes brought about by the pandemic and the importance of digital
transformation and the use of electronic services and platforms to provide better
services to serve the people

This bill mandates the government to provide and establish an integrated,
interconnected and interoperable information and resource sharing communications

network in the entire government bureaucracy in the delivery of public services.

In view of the foregoing immediate passage of the Bill is earnestly sought.

Qy

ARNOLFO “ARNIE” A. TEVES, JR.


cad
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS

1" Regular Session

4499

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: REP. ARNOLFO “ARNIE” A. TEVES, JR.

‘AN ACT MANDATING THE TRANSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO ELECTRONIC
GOVERNANCE IN THE DIGITAL AGE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

SECTION 1. TITLE. This Act shall be known as the “Electronic Governance Act of 2022.

SECTION 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY . It is the policy of the state to develop an efficient
and customer-friendly public administration, resulting in an improved quality of public
services. Towards this end, the Government hereby adopts a policy towards the
digitalization or mainstreaming of its online services in order to sustain a digitally
empowered and integrated government that provides responsive and transparent

online citizen-centered services for globally competitive citizens.

SECTION 2. COVERAGE. This Aci shall apply to all Government Agencies including
Local Government Units, Government Owned or Controlled Corporations and Schools

Universities and Colleges except on matters of national security which shall be under


the jurisdiction of the Department of National Defense or the National Security Council

as the case may be.

SECTION 3. ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY (DICT)
The DICT, in addition to its mandate under R.A 10844 shall be the lead agency to

digitalize the systems and processes of the whole government

For this purpose the DICT shall coordinate all national ICT plans and initiatives and shall
come out with a national road map for government transaction and services
digitalization within 180 days from the enactment of this Act. The DICT shall harmonize
and coordinate all national ICT plans and initiatives to ensure knowledge information
and resource sharing, database building and agency networking linkages among

government agencies, consistent with E-Government objectives in particular,

It shall also ensure the development and protection of integrated government ICT
infrastructures and designs, plans, programs, software's, hardware and installed

systems.

The DICT shall be the primary implementing body and principal administrator of this
Act. All ICT projects in the Philippines shall be done in accordance with the National ICT
Development Agenda, as the DICT may see fit. The DICT shall establish measures fo
implement policies under this Act and ensure that all ICT projects in the Philippines
wheiher national or local are harmonized and integrated with the overall ICT projects in

the Philippines.

SECTION 4, ROLE OF HEADS OF OFFICES

Every head of agency, office and instrumentality of the national and local government
shall submit within ninety days (90) from the ratification of this Act fo the DICT of all its
processes and systems that need to be digitized. The DICT shall collate alll systems and
procedures submitted by the agencies. For agencies which have digitized systems and

procedures, or which has an ongoing digitalization program the head of the agency


shall submit to DICT the said program for enhancement, if any. Further all heads of

agencies shall be responsible for the following;

a. To strictly comply with the requirements of this Act including related standards
for all ICT infrastructure, systems, equipment, designs and all other technology;

b. Comply with the standards and protocols for cybersecurity, resiliency, privacy
and confidentiality;

c. To ensure that the information technology standards promulgated by the
DICT are communicated promptly and effectively to all relevant officials

within their agency:

SECTION 5. TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

The DICT shall study, formulate and implement a master plan for the transition of the
government and its provision of services in the digital age. For this purpose, until such
fime that the goverment shall complete the transition in accordance with the
objectives of this Act, all government activities covered under this act shall be
conducted in the manner provided for under existing laws and rules.

The government shall complete the transition in a maximum of three (3) years.

SECTION 6. REPORTING.

All agencies, offices and insirumentatities of the national and local governments
covered under this Act shall submit to the Congress, the President and to the DICT an
annual report on the status of implementation of this Act. These reports shall likewise be

made publicly available on and through electronic portals.

SECTION 7. IMPLEMENTING RULES
The DICT shall within sixty days from the approval of this Act come up with Rules to

implement this Act,


SECTION 8. REPEALING CLAUSE
All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 11. EFFECTIVITY
This Act shall take effect Fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or

in anational newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.