Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
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 
With the new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased emphasis 
on reducing contact in transactions to minimize the transmission of the disease. As such, LGUs 
need to shape up and accelerate the adoption of ICT solutions which would also enable to LGUs 
to better cope with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, numerous LGUs have 
already adopted the use of ICT for workplace communication and information dissemination to 
the public.  
This measure seeks to institutionalize the Informational and Communications Technology Officer 
(ICTO) position across all local government units. This is proposed to promote the adoption of 
information and communication technology to facilitate more efficient processes in the workplace 
and to improve the delivery of basic services and other transactions to the public. Local ICTOs 
shall be responsible for the implementation of digital transformation within their localities. This 
would involve the development of a plan for the digitalization of government transactions and 
processes, digitization and management of databases and records of offices and departments, 
and dissemination of information regarding ICT solutions to the public. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.  
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 9, 2022
4:04 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
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 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, harness, 
and integrate information and communication technology across all levels of local government 
units in the country to ensure transparent, accountable, efficient, and participatory governance. 
Under 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) Digitization – refers to the technical conversion of physical, analog originals to digital
copies using electronic devices;
b) Digitalization – refers to the adoption of digital technologies to upgrade business processes
and models to create better ways of providing service and obtaining greater benefits;
c) Digital Transformation – refers to the cultural, organizational, and operational change of
an organization, industry, or ecosystem through the smart integration of digital
technologies, processes, and competencies across all levels and functions in a staged and
strategic way;
d) Digital skills – refer to a range of skills, encompassing a combination of behaviors,
expertise, know-how, work habits, character traits, dispositions, and critical understanding
of the use of digital devices, communication applications, and networks to access and
manage information;
e) Digital services – refer to public or private services that can be delivered through digital
communication, such as the Internet, mobile phone networks that might include delivery
of digital information, data or content, or transactional services;
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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 in a 
digital form such as personal computers and devices like desktops, laptops, netbooks, 
tablet computer, smartphones, 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 [;]. A MUNICIPAL 
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 WITH 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 
“(e) xxx 
 
SEC. 5. Section 454 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:  
"Sec. 454. Officials of the City Government. 


(b) 
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 
"(c) XXX  
"(d) XXX  
"(e) XXX 
SEC. 6. Section 463 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows:  
"Sec. 463. Officials of the Provincial Government 
(c)  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 provincial 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  
"(e) xxx 


SEC. 7. A new Section 491-A shall be inserted after Section 491 of the Code to 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 IN INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY, 
COMPUTER 
SCIENCE, 
COMPUTER 
ENGINEERING, DATA SCIENCE, ELECTRONICS, AND COMMUNICATIONS 
ENGINEERING OR OTHER COURSES DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO ANY OF THE 
AFOREMENTIONED COURSES FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, 
AND A FIRST GRADE CML 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 
SANGGUNIANG 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 PROCESSES, AND OVER-ALL 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:  
(i) TAKE CUSTODY OF AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL PROPERTIES, 
REAL OR PERSONAL, OWNED BY THE LOCAL 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; 
(v) 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 concerning 
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 THE 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. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,