0i3^<©ffi£? of tlif <■:
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
23 FEB 13 P2S2
SENATE
S. No1867
RHCEIVcU B;
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE E-GOVERNMENT, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The information ecosystem has found its relevance in today's world. Timely, 
accurate, and clear information requires the right technological infrastructure, 
efficient information systems, resources, and protocols. This is why the Information 
and Communications Technology (ICT) industry is regarded as the "industry of 
industries" as it is embedded in every aspect of people's economic, social, and political 
life.
Digital transformation has long been introduced and is welcomed by the 
people and governments. It brings the government's services closer and faster to the 
people. However, there is a clamor for more efficient, effective, transparent, and 
accountable governance through the use of ICT, in accord with the demands of today. 
There is also a challenge of making it more inclusive, encouraging and strengthening 
people's participation and empowerment through civic technology.
During calamities and disasters, for instance, operations of government 
networks highly depend on information and effective communication through the use 
of technology in abating damages and preventing imprecisions. The global COVID-


19 pandemic opened the necessity of speeding up the process of digital transformation 
in many countries. During its peak, the whole world was sustained by the emergence 
and use of technology where the fast-paced world of the internet fueled and sustained 
the stride for pubhc service and business continuity, social interaction, and access to 
government services. The pandemic pushed the whole world and catapulted all 
societies and governments to a digital revolution.
Among our reahzations of the sudden swift to digitalization is the pressing 
need to come up with legislation that paves the way for institutionahzing a digital 
transformation agenda. While there is an existing 2022 E-government Plan developed 
by the Department of Information Communication Technology (DICT), with its aim 
of having a "One Digitized Government" enabling full interoperability of government 
systems and services, it still needs a strong legislative backbone to support and direct 
national government agencies and local government units to prioritize and allocate 
funding to implement the e-governance agenda of their respective organizations.
The vital role of communication and information in nation-budding is 
stipulated in Article II Section 24 of our Constitution. The estabUshment of e- 
government through this legislative action is a pre-condition to jump-start and speed 
up the process of digital transformation of the entire PhiHppine bureaucracy, for the 
government to cope with and match the growing demand of an ICT-enabled society.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
EN LEGARDA


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
of tliC £3
23 FEB 13 P2 52
SENATE
s. No.iS67
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE E-GOVERNMENT, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
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 "E-Governinent Act of
2022/
Sec. 2. Declaration of policy. - The State hereby adopts the following policies:
1) 
The State shaU provide effective leadership for the development and 
promotion of electronic government services and processes;
2) 
The State shall provide increased opportunities for citizen participation 
in government and people empowerment through the use of available electronic 
technologies, increased access to high-quality government information across 
multiple channels, and the use of civic technology to democratize governance;
3) 
The State shall promote inter-agency collaboration in providing 
electronic government services;
4) 
The State, in its recognition of the vital role of communication and 
information in nation-building, shall promote the use of the internet and emerging 
technologies within and across government agencies to provide citizen-centric 
government information and services;
5) 
The State shall ensure that costs and burdens on setting up ICT


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infrastructures, processes, and systems are reduced for businesses, private, civic, and
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government entities;
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6) 
The State shall promote better-informed decision-making by
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poHcymakers;
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7) 
The State shall promote access to high-quality government information
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and services across multiple chaimels;
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8) 
The State shall make the government more transparent and accountable;
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9) 
The State shall recognize its inherent obUgation to ensure that personal
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information in information and communications systems in the government is
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secured and protected; and,
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10) 
The State shall strengthen and update existing electronic systems, online
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or remote transaction mechanisms, and other contactless means of service in
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recognition of the health protocols, mobiUty restrictions, and safety guidelines posed
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by the epidemics and similar health emergencies, and natural hazards or human-
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induced disasters.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act:
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a) Chief Information Officer or CIO shall mean, a senior officer in all national
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government agencies, including constitutional offices, state miiversities, and
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colleges, government-owned and controlled corporations, and government
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financial institutions responsible for the development and management of
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the agency's ICT systems and applications, selected through the designation
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by the Head of Agency.
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b) Civic Technology shall mean the use of ICT that promotes transparency,
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empowers citizens, fights corruption, and harnesses new technologies to
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strengthen citizen participation and governance.
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c) Electronic Government or E-Govemment shall mean the use of ICT by the
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government and the pubhc to enhance access to and dehvery of government
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services to bring about efficient, responsive, ethical, accotmtable, and
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transparent government service;
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d) Information and Communications Technology or ICT shall mean the totality of
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electronic means to access, create, collect, store, process, receive, transmit,
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present, and disseminate data and information;


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e) ICT-Enabled Services shall mean those engaged in providing services that
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require the intrinsic use of ICTs including engineering or architectural
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design, informatics service providers, offshoring and outsourcing service
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providers such as call centers, back-office processing, software development,
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medical or legal transcription, animation, game development, and other
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services that require the intrinsic use of networked information
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infrastructure;
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f) Interoperability shall mean the ability of different operating and software
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systems, applications, and services to communicate and exchange data in an
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accurate, effective, and consistent manner.
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Sec. 4. E-Govemment Master Plan - The Department of Information and
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Communications Technology (DICT) shall establish and promote an E-Govermnent
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Master Plan to encourage excellence in facihtating the development and enhancement
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of all E-Government services and processes at the national and local levels. The E-
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Government Master Plan shall be reviewed and revised every three (3) years.
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Sec. 5. E-Govemment Programs - The E-Govermnent Master Plan shall include
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but not be hmited to, the following programs;
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1) Philippine Government Interoperability Framework. - A framework shall be
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developed to guide and govern basic technical and mformational
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interoperability of government ICT systems. The framework shall guide all
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shared operations and services of the Philippine government - between and
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among its various agencies, as well as for these agencies, in dealing with their
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various constituencies;
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2) Database and Other Resources Sharing Network - A network shall be designed
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to allow agencies to access shared databases and other resources to fadhtate
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seamless validation, inquiry and research procedures, inter-agency
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cooperation and support, and regular exchange of datasets, studies, and
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statistics towards effective policy-making, monitoring, and evaluation.
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3) Archives and Records Management Information System - A system shall be
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designed to systematically and effidently manage government documents
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and records. This includes the digitization of paper-based documents and
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records and the development of systems that will manage these documents.


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- from creation, routing, tracking, and archiving to disposal, - while adhering 
to existing pohcies, laws, and the standards of the International Organization 
for Standardization;
4) Government Online Payment System - An Internet-based electronic payment 
facility and gateway that will enable citizens and businesses to remit 
payments electronically to government agencies shall be created. It shall 
render services through various delivery chaimels, which include debit 
instructions accounts (debit cards), credit instructions (credit cards), and 
mobile wallets (SMS);
5) Citizen Frontline Delivery Services - Services that are needed to facilitate 
business registration-related transactions shall be made efficient by 
integrating all agencies involved in business registration, such as the 
Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission, 
Cooperative Development Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social 
Security System, Home Development Mutual Fund, PhiUiealth Health 
Insurance Corporation, Local Government Units (LGUs) and other 
permit/license-issuing agencies;
6) Public Fiscal Management - Various financial systems in government such as 
taxation, payment systems, accounting, and business registries, shall be 
harmonized and managed;
7) Procurement System - An online and real-time service that encompasses all 
procurement processes involving bidding, contract agreements, and 
payment for services or supplies shall also be developed;
8) Full Disclosure, Transparency System, and Citizen Feedback Systems- An open 
data and feedback system that allows the general pubUc access to 
government and other public interest documents, projects, and transactions, 
allows citizens to engage public officials by providing feedback on 
government actions on the implementation of programs, projects, and 
operations, as well as in shaping public policies thereby enhancing the 
relationship of the public to the government and facihtate discourse to 
strengthen democracy.


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9) Cyhersecurity Protection and Data Privacy Measures - This refers to policies and 
safeguards that wiU ensure the protection of data and personal information 
against cyber security threats, breach of privacy, and illegal use of 
information.
The E-Government Master Plan shall likewise include the following:
1) Inventory and purchase of hardware and software of all government offices;
2) Utilization of servers, network connections, and data centers in aU 
government offices;
3) Security, disaster recovery plans, and archiving considering existing services 
and capabilities, as well as future information systems; and
4) Standardization of systems across government agencies to promote 
interoperability and database management.
Sec. 6. DICT Secretary as E-Govemment Head - The Secretary of the DICT shall 
head the E-Government initiative. The Secretary is expected to spearhead aU aspects 
of the implementation of the E-Govermnent Master Plan to catalyze the optimum use 
of ICT in government to expand and improve public services, government operations, 
and capabilities.
Sec. 7. Chief Information Officers - Chief Information Officers shall be assigned 
and deployed to national and key governmental units and perform the following 
functions:
1) Advise agencies on how to best leverage ICTs to optimize the dehvery of 
public services, and achieve efficient and cost-effective operations;
2) Develop, maintain and manage the agency's information systems;
3) Manage and supervise the implementation of ICT-based projects, systems, 
and processes;
4) Formulate and implement processes in relation to the adoption of ICT-based 
solutions as provided by the E-Government plan;
5) Manage operational risks related to ICT in coordination with the agency's 
management and stakeholders; and,
6) Ensure that the ICT programs and operations are consistent with national 
pohcies and standards.


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Sec. 8. Local Government Unit (LGU) ICT Offices - Each LGU shall have an ICT
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Officer assigned to manage and supervise its adoption of the E-Government Plan. The
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LGU ICT Officer is hkewise tasked to spearhead seminars and other means of
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educating the community to maximize E-Govemment initiatives.
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Sec. 9. E-Govemment Status Report - Each agency and LGU shall compile and
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submit an annual E-Govemment Status Report on:
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(a) The status of the implementation of electronic government initiatives;
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(b) Comphance by the agency with this Act; and,
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(c) Performance in dehvering programs through the E-Govemment to
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constituencies.
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Sec. 10. Appropriations - The amoimt needed for the initial implementation of
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this Act shall be taken from the current year's appropriations of the DICT. Thereafter,
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such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in
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the annual General Appropriations Act. Each national government agency is hkewise
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allowed to propose funding for its ICT-strengthening initiatives in response to this
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law.
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Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The DICT shah, in coordination with
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relevant agencies and upon consultation with stakeholders, issue within sixty (60)
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days from the effectivity of this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for the
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effective implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 12. Separabihty Clause - If any provision of this Act shall be declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain
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in full force and effect.
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Sec. 13. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Act are
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hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 14. Ejfectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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pubhcation in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,