Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Guccon Cty

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6303

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 26.26 2c of Sentamher 2010 _ 2
one smartphone for every three Filipinos. We Are Social and J Hootsuite, social
network and media companies based in London and Vancouver respectively, also
report that for 2018 “[iJn the Philippines, time spent online daily soared [x x x] to 10
hours and 2 minutes this year, the highest in the world.” It is also interesting to note
that social media penetration among Filipinos is at y¥% of internet users and that we
also spend the most time on social media at 4 hours and 12 minutes per day.’ “Fixed
internet speed grew from 15.19 mbps [on] average to 19 Mbps.”*

le more than

smartphone

Not t:
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.

‘ Available at https://)www.statista.com/statistics/748053/worldwide-top-countries-smartphone-users/
(last accessed 04 February 2020).

? Gelo Gonzales, Filipinos spend most time online, on social media worldwide — report, available at
https:/www.rappler.com/technology/news/222407 -philippines-online-use-2019-hootsuite-we-are-socia
report (last accessed 04 February 2020).

* 1d.

‘Id.


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 availaDie 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

rds for all government appl

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.

science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism,
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development”

and “recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.”°

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].””

The proposed Government Mobile Applications Act embodies these ideals.

The urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sougnt.

Rep.’ JOHN F. GARCIA
3rd District, Province of Cebu

5 CONST. art. Il, § 17.
s art. II, § 24.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quozon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

£303

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

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 en can be
ith ol

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 (hereinafter referred to as 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

other benefit.

‘of governm:



‘A GMA may be agency-centric or citizen-centric. Agency-centric GMAs are
applications intended forthe internal use of a government agency or instrumentally to
N

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:

1. Secretary of Department of Information and Communications Technology
(DICT), as Chairperson;

2. National Statistician and Head of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); and

3. Commissioner of the National Privacy Commission (NPC)

and representatives from:

1. Philippines Communications Operations Office (PCOO);
2. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office
(PcnsPoy;

Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);
Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);

Department of Lahor and Employment (MOLE):

. Department of Tourism (DOT);

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
40.Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

11. Department of Justice (DOJ); and

42, Nenartment of Finance (NOF)

OPNORRL

Section 5. Functions of the Steering Committee. - The Steering Committee
shall:

a Nevelop and implement nolicies for GMAs to pursiie 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. - |n line with the declared policy of this Act,
all GMAs shall hereby observe the following uniform standards and characteristics:

. Open data and content;

. User-friendliness;

Ease of internal and external data exchange;
|. User safety and privacy;

Economical use of budget and resources;
Intelligibili
Correctness;

. Dependability;
Emceey

: Wide-cbmeaubity and

ra voseas>oao oD

Any other standard or quality that will be set by the Steering Committee, which
shall be consistent with this Act.

standardized framework of data and data infrastructure which shall be cbserved
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 GMAc

Section 8. Transcendent Unified Government Mobile Application. - The
Transcendent Unified Government Mobile Application (hereinafter referred to as
“Tugma’) is hereby crested and shall be an online comprehensive portal designed to

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, provide information, and extend any other
heneficial se made nassible through the implementation of modem technologies

and systems.

Section 9. Lead Developer. - The Department of Information and
Communication Technology (DICT) shall be the lead agency tasked with the design,
develonment, imnlementatinn, distribiitinn, maintenance, and improvement of
Tugma. In line with the agency's “Philippine Digital Transformation Strategy 2022”,
the creation of Tugma 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
resnective functions and obiectives


Section 10. Services and Features of Tugma - Tugma shall:

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 frontli

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;

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, vari
provided;

g. Function as an avenue wherein one may raise complaints, comments, and/or
suggestions concerning governmental functions; and

h. Full any other function the Steering Committee may hereinafter provide

Is cervices and GMAs already heing

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 nereon for numoses of using the Tugma and to ensure security
and privacy.

Season 12. National Government Portal Integration. - The National
Government Portal (NGP) of the DICT is hereby integrated, combined, or otherwise
absorhed hy Tiigma and shall this alsn inclide access to Incal gnvernment 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 instrimentalities, if directed hy the Steering
Committee, shall:

a. Integrate their online services and GMAs with Tugma;

b. Form or designate an agency web administration team from permanent
nersonnel:

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. Appropriation. - Congress shall appropriate the amount of Fifty
Million pesos (P50,000,000.00) for the inital implementation of this Act. After the

hereby
coreers

ire 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
ix (6)

rules 2!
g rules er

months thereafter.

Section 15. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees executive order,
rules and regulations, or parts or provisions thereof which are not affected shall
continue to remain in full force and effect

Section 16. Separability Clause. - \f 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,