GE REPRESEN.

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SATE August 15, 2022%),

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Republic of the Philippines [o}
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3594

Introduced by Honorable Rex Gatchalian

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING AN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER IN ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, PROVIDING
FOR HIS/HER POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
‘THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered how societies operate. To curb the spread
of the virus, the administration placed the entire country under quarantine. While
this solution effectively slowed down the virus, it abruptly stopped or slowed down
most of the operations in every sector ~ disrupting education, mass unemployment,

closure of businesses, and inability to deliver basic services, among others.

Before a COVID-19 vaccine was created, everyone adjusted to a new normal,
with social distancing at its core. For local government units (LGUs), this means
shifting to online platforms. Two (2) years later, despite the evident effectiveness of
vaccines and the reopening of affected sectors, LGUs kept their online platforms and
even improved them because such has proven to increase efficiency and productivity
in delivering basic services. Furthermore, it yields benefits that transcend any health
emergencies, calamities, or other similar events - such as, but not limited to, time
efficiency for government employees and citizens. It also reduces transportation

costs, bureaucratic red tape, and corruption.

Therefore, to further usher the government into the digital age and reap its
advantages, this bill seeks to institutionalize a Local Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) Officer, and the corresponding Local ICT Office,


in all LGUs in the Local Government Code. With this, the LGUs, through uniform
minimum standards, would be at the forefront of digital innovation in their respective
localities. The local ICT officer shall provide policy direction for the automation and
system of electronic data storage for all information and transactions relating to local

business processes and other matters of public concern. This includes:

(1) Providing of on-time accomplishment reports of all departments, local
advisories, and participatory initiatives for local programs;

(2) Expediting the processing of all local transactions;

(3) Providing a technology that will offer online payments for all local taxes, fees,
and other assessments;

(4) Providing an accurate system for the computation of payments;

(5) Providing transparency and the effective monitoring of all information and
transactions within the locality concerned;

(6) Providing consistent accessibility of organized information to the general
public as well as providing a venue for communication with constituents;

(7) Providing a productive tool to increase efficiency in local government service;
and

(8) Equipping local government units with a constantly evolving technology that
will be at par with global standards.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

fon. C1

Representative
is District of Valenzuela


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.3594

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Introduced by Honorable Rex Gatchalian

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AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING AN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER IN ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, PROVIDING
FOR HIS/HER POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

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 “Local Information
and Communications Technology Officer Act.”

SEC. 2. Local Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Officer. - A
Local ICT Officer shalll be institutionalized in every province, city, and municipality
in Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of
1991. Accordingly, a new Article, to be known as Article XXI, shall be incorporated

into Title V, Book III of the same Code, to read as follows:

“ARTICLE XXI
“The Information and Communications Technology Officer”

SEC. 490-A. Qualifications, Powers, and Duties. - (a) No person
shall be appointed as the information and communications technology
(ICT) officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the
local government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of
a degree preferably in information technology, computer science,
information systems, computer engineering or any related degree from
a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible


or its equivalent. He/she must have experience in digitalization and
automation of information and transactions for at least three (3) years
in the case of the provincial or city ICT officer and at least one (1) year

in the case of the municipal ICT officer.

(b) The local ICT officer shall take charge of the office on ICT and
shall:

(1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian,
and provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor,
as the case may be, in providing the automation and system of
electronic data storage for all information and transactions relating to
local business processes and other matters of public concern, which
includes but are not limited to the following:

(i) Providing on-time accomplishment reports of all
departments, local advisories, and participatory initiatives for
local programs;

(ii) Expediting the processing of all local transactions;

(iii) Providing a technology that will offer online payments
for all local taxes, fees, and other assessments;

(iv) Providing an accurate system for the computation of
payments;

(v) Providing transparency and the effective monitoring of
all information and transactions within the locality concerned;

(vi) Providing consistent accessibility of organized
information to the general public as well as providing a venue for
communication with constituents;

(vii) Providing a productive tool to increase efficiency in
local government service; and

(viii) Equipping local government units with a constantly
evolving technology that will be at par with global standards; and

(2) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties
and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.

SEC. 3. Existing Local ICT Officer and/or Office. - Provinces, cities, and
municipalities which have existing ICT officers and/or offices akin to that mandated
in this Article shall continue to maintain such officers and/or offices and shall


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incorporate the provisions of this Act to their existing mandate.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part, section, or
provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof which
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,