Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3435.

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION CAPACITY OF ALL
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF
1991, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., during his 2023 State of the Nation
‘Address, emphasized that digitalization is not merely a future goal but a present necessity. He
stressed the importance of fully adopting digital systems in government functions. However,
even with this clear directive, many LGUs continue to face significant gaps in technical

personnel and digital systems.

According to data from the discussion of the Department of Information and
Communications Technology and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific, 1,634 LGUs in the Philippines have started implementing the Electronic
Local Government Unit System, specifically 771 in Luzon, 408, in Visayas, and 408 in
Mindanao. These numbers reflect the need to build stronger local digital governance

infrastructure.

To address these challenges, this proposed measure secks to amend the Local
Government Code of 1991 to institutionalize the position of a Local Information and
Communications Technology Officer in every LGU. This role will help LGUs implement and


sustain technology-based programs that directly benefit their constituents. This is a proactive

solution to ensure that digital governance is not left to chance, but rather receives external

support.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

ING” D. REMULL

CRISPIN DIEG'


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL. no.3 435

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION CAPACITY OF ALL
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF
1991, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared a policy of the State to develop,
hamess, and integrate information and communication technology across all levels of
government in the country to ensure transparent, accountable, efficient and participatory
governance. Pursuant to this policy, the State shall provide for a local government position that
will be responsible and accountable for the implementation of digital transformation in the
local government units.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act

(a) Di

digital copies by means of electronic devices;

ation — refers to the technical conversion of physical, analog originals to

(b) Digitalization — refers to the adoption of digital technologies to upgrade business
processes and models in order to create better ways of providing service and obtaining

greater benefits;


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(©) Digital Transformation — refers to cultural, organizational and operational change
of an organization, industry or ecosystem through a smart integration. of digital
technologies, processes and competencies across all levels and functions in a staged
and strategic way;

(A) Digital Skilis — refer to a range of skills, encompassing a combination of behaviors,
expertise, know-how, work habits, character traits, dispositions, and critical
understanding on the use of digital devices, communication applications, and networks
to access and manage information;

(©) Digital Services — refer to public or private services that can be delivered through
digital communication, such as Internet, mobile phone network that might include
delivery of digital information, data or content or transactional services;

(f) Digital Technology — refers to any product or service that can be used to create,
view, distribute, modify, store, retrieve, transmit, and receive information electronically
ina digital form such as personal computers and devices like desktop, laptop, netbook,

tablet computer, smart phones, games consoles, media players, e-book readers, as well

as digital television, robots, personal assistant smart devices, and smart boards;
(g) Digital tools — refer to technologies used for a given purpose or for carrying out a
particular function of information processing, communication, content creation, safety
or problem solving:

(h) E-readiness (electronic readiness) ~ refers to a measure of the degree to which a
country is prepared to partake in electronic activities and, thus, benefit from ICT in
education;

(i) Innovation — refers to the creation of new ideas using new or existing technologies
that results in the development of new or improved products, processes, or services,
which are then spread or transferred across the market

SEC.4. Section 443 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local

Government Code of 1991, hereinafter referred to as the "Code", is hereby amended to read as

follows:

“Sec. 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. —
“(a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice-mayor,
sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the sangguniang bayan, a municipal
treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, a municipal budget officer, a
municipal planning and development coordinator, a municipal engineer/building

official, a municipal health officer and a municipal civil registrar [5]. A MUNICIPAL,


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INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
(ICTO) SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT THE
MUNICIPALITY HAS THE OPTION TO APPOINT AN ICTO OR MERGE
SUCH POSITION TO AN EXISTING POSITION OR OFFICIAL IN A
RELATED OFFICE, UNIT OR DEPARTMENT IN THE MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IF THE MUNICIPALITY
SHALL APPOINT AN ICTO, THE MUNICIPALITY HAS THE OPTION TO
SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE
MUNICIPAL ICTO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND
REGULATIONS.

“(b) xxx

“(c) xxx

“(d) xxx

“(€) xxx.”

SEC.S. Section 454 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 454. Officials of the City Government.

“(a) There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, sangguniang

panlungsod members, a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, a city treasurer, a city
assessor, a city accountant, a city budget officer, a city planning and development
coordinator, a city engineer, a city health officer, a city civil registrar, a city
administrator, a city legal officer, a city veterinarian, a city social welfare and
development officer, and a city general services officer [;]. A CITY ICTO SHALL
ALSO BE APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT THE CITY HAS THE OPTION
TO APPOINT AN ICTO OR MERGE SUCH POSITION TO AN EXISTING
POSITION OR OFFICIAL IN A RELATED OFFICE, UNIT OR
DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT: PROVIDED, FURTHER,
THAT IF THE CITY SHALL APPOINT AN ICTO, THE CITY HAS THE
OPTION TO SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER
EMOLUMENTS OF THE CITY ICTO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS,
RULES AND REGULATIONS.

“(b) xxx

S(¢) Xxx
“(d) xxx

“(e) Xxx.”


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SEC.6. Section 463 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 463. Officials of the Provincial Government.

“(a) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice-governor, members of the
sangguniang panlalawigan, a secretary to the sangguniang panlalawigan, a provincial
treasurer, a provincial assessor, a provincial accountant, a provincial engineer, a
provincial budget officer, a provincial planning and development coordinator, a
provincial legal officer, a previncial administrator, a provincial health officer, a
provincial social welfare and development officer, a provincial general services officer,
a provincial agriculturist, and a provincial veterinarian, [;]. A PROVINCIAL ICTO
SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED; PROVIDED, THAT THE PROVINCE HAS
THE OPTION TO APPOINT AN ICTO OR MERGE SUCH POSITION TO AN
EXISTING POSITION OR OFFICIAL IN A RELATED OFFICE, UNIT OR
DEPARTMENT IN THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, THAT IF THE PROVINCE SHALL APPOINT AN ICTO, THE
PROVINCE HAS THE OPTION TO SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND
OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE PROVINCIAL ICTO SUBJECT TO
EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

*(b) xxx

“(c) Xxx,

“(d) xxx.

S(e) xxx.”

SEC.7. A new Article XI is hereby inserted in the Code and all subsections shall be

re-sectioned, accordingly. Article XXI shall read as follows:

“ARTICLE XXI
"THE LOCAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

OFFICER

"SECTION 491-A. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES. - (A)
NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED AS INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER UNLESS HE OR SHE
IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL
CHARACTER, A HOLDER OF A COLLEGE DEGREE ON
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY,
COMPUTER SCIENCE,COMPUTER ENGINEERING, DATA


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SCIENCE, ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIO!
ENGINEERING OR OTHER COURSES DIRECTLY RELEVANT
ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURSES FROM A
RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, AND A FIRST GRADE
CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS EQUIVALENT. HE OR SHE
MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND RELATED
EXPERIENCES FOR AT LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE OF
THE PROVINCE OR CITY, OR AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS IN THE
(CASE OF THE MUNICIPALITY.

THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER SHALL BE
MANDATORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS.

(B) THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER SHALL:

(1) FORMULATE MEASURES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF
‘THE SANGGUNIAN AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
SUPPORT TO THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, IN CARRYING OUT
MEASURES TO ENSURE THE DIGITIZATION OF PUBLIC
DOCUMENTS, DIGITALIZATION OF GOVERNMENT PROCESS
AND OVERALL DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF GOVERNMENT

(2) DEVELOP PLANS AND STRATEGIES AND UPON
APPROVAL THEREOF BY THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE
IMPLEMENT THE SAME, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH HAVE
TO DO WITH DEVELOPING, HARNESSING, INTEGRATING AND
UTILIZING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF
GOVERNMENT AND RELEVANT PURPOSES;

(3) IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES AND
FUNCTIONS, THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER SHALL:

() TAKE CUSTODY OF AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL
PROPERTIES, REAL OR PERSONAL, OWNED BY THE LOCAL



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GOVERNMENT UNIT AND THOSE GRANTED TO IT IN THE FORM
OF DONATION, REPARATION, ASSISTANCE AND COUNTERPART
OF JOINT PROJECTS;
ii) WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL CHIEF
EXECUTIVE, ASSIGN RESOURCES TO LOCAL OFFICIALS OR
OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS, WHO BY LAW, ARE ENTITLED TO
SUCH SPACES;

(iii) RECOMMEND TO THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE
REASONABLE PURCHASE, LEASE OR RENTAL RATES OF
DIGITAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION;

(iv) DEVELOP, MAINTAIN AND SUPERVISE ALL OTHER
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT;

(vy) COLLATE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION
REGARDING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TO THE PUBLIC,

(vi) PERFORM DATABASE AND RECORD MANAGEMENT
WITH RESPECT TO RECORDS OF OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS
OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT; AND

(vii) PERFORM ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS PERTAINING
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
ENFORCE POLICIES IN RELATION THERETO;

(4) BE IN THE FRONTLINE OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE
SECTOR;

(5) DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE ALL
PROGRAMS AIMED AT ENSURING THAT ALL PERSONNEL
UNDER HIS OR HER SUPERVISION INCLUDING HIMSELF OR
HERSELF ARE CONSTANTLY TRAINED OR EXPOSED TO



KNOWLEDGE IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER RELEVANT AREAS;
(6) RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIAN AND ADVISE THE
LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ON ALL OTHER MATTERS RELATIVE
TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY; AND
(C) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM SUCH
OTHER DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY
LAW OR ORDINANCE."
SEC.8. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared as

unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby
shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC.9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC.10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,