NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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(©ft i' of illC !»• 1 I<■
*22 JUL13 AlO *01
S.
SENATE
455
Introduced by SENATOR 3INGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE E-GOVERNMENT, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article IIf Section 24 of the 1987 Constitution states that, "The State recognizes 
the vital role of communication and Information in nation-building."
In 1990s, the use of the term "electronic government" or "e-government" 
became prevalent when governments around the world started harnessing information 
and communications technology (ICT) to improve the quality of public services and 
decreasing the cost of the same.
According to the United Nations E-Government Knowledgebase, e-government 
is "the use of ICTs to more effectively and efficiently deliver government services to 
citizens and businesses. It is the application of ICT In government operations, 
achieving public ends by digital means. The underlying principle of e-government, 
supported by an effective e-governance institutional framework, is to improve the 
Internal workings of the public sector by reducing financial costs and transaction times 
so as to better integrate work flows and processes and enable effective resource 
utilization across the various public sector agencies aiming for sustainable solutions. 
Through innovation and e-government, governments around the world can be more 
efficient, provide better services, respond to the demands of citizens for transparency


and accountability, bo more inclusive and thus restore the trust of citizens in their 
governments."
Various countries have already implemented various forms of e-government to 
increase the efficiency and effectivity of public service. While there are still concerns 
regarding data privacy and digital divide, e-government is worth implementing to 
maximize its benefits that corresponds to the rapid advancements in ICT.
The Philippine government has continuously been developing ICT plans, the 
most recent of which are E-Government Masterplan (EGMP) 2013-2016 and EGMP 
2022 which were formulated by the Department of Information and Communications 
Technology (DICT)- EGMP 2022 seeks to achieve "One Digitized Government by 
"developing the country's E-Government systems through the digital transformation 
of basic services that cut across the whole-of-government".
The "E-Government Act" seeks to provide a legal framework for the 
establishment of an E-Government Master Plan that will encourage excellence in 
facilitating the development and enhancement of all E-Government services and 
processes under the auspices of the Department of Information and Communications 
Technology (DICT). Among the programs that will be Included in the E-Government 
Master Plan are:
1) Philippine Government Interoperability Framework;
2) Database and Other Resources Sharing Network;
3) Archives and Records Management System;
4) Full Disclosure and Transparency System;
5) Government Online Payment System;
6) Citizen Frontline Delivery Services;
7) Public Financial Management;
8) Procurement System; and,
9) Cybersecurity Protection and Data Privacy Measures.


Through the establishment of a comprehensive plan that will enable the full 
Interoperability of all government systems and services, public service is expected to 
be more effective, efficient and responsive to the needs of the people.
In view of foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly
sought.
JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
o( nil' . 
■! O'
72 JUL 13 AlO ‘.01
SENATE
455
S. No.
ri;ce;v£D c.
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE E-GOVERNMENT, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembied:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as theE-Government Act'.
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State hereby adopts the following policies:
1. The State shall 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 use of available electronic 
technologies and increased access to high quality government Information 
across multiple channels;
3. The State shall promote inter-agency collaboration and harmonized 
systems in providing automated government services;
4. The State shall promote the use of the internet, as well as available and 
emerging technologies within and across government agencies to provide 
efficient and effective citizen-centric government information and services;
5. The State shall ensure that costs and burdens in availing government 
services are substantially reduced for the general public, businesses and 
other entitles;
6. The State shall make the government more transparent and accountable;


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7. The State shall recognize its inherent obligation to ensure that personal 
information in information and communications systems in the government 
are secured and protected;
8. The State shall strengthen and update existing electronic systems, online 
or remote transaction mechanisms and other contactless means of service 
in recognition of the health protocols, mobility restrictions and safety 
guidelines posed by the epidemics and similar health emergencies, and 
natural or man-made calamities.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
1. Information and Communications Technoiogy or ICT - shall mean the 
totality of electronic means to access, create, collect, store, process, 
receive, transmit, present and disseminate Information;
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Eiectronic Government or E-Government- shall mean the use of ICT by the 
government and the public to enhance access to and delivery of 
government services to bring about efficient, responsive, ethical, 
accountable, and transparent government service;
3. ICT-enabiedServices- shall mean those engaged in providing services that 
require the Intrinsic use of ICTs Including engineering or architectural 
design. Informatics service providers, offshoring and outsourcing service 
providers such as call centers, back office processing, software 
development, medical or legal transcription, animation, game development, 
and other services that require the intrinsic use of a networked information 
infrastructure;
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Chief Information Officer or CIO - shall mean a senior officer in all national 
government agencies, including constitutional offices, state universities and 
colleges, government-owned and -controlled corporations, and 
government financial institutions responsible for the development and 
management of the agency's ICT systems and applications;
5. Interoperability- shall mean the ability of different operating and software 
systems, applications and services to communicate and exchange data in 
an accurate, effective and consistent manner.


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Sec. 4. E-Government Master Plan. - The Department of Information and
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Communications Technology (DICT) shall establish and promote an E-Government
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Master Plan to encourage excellence In facilitating the development and enhancement
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of all E-Government services and processes. The E-Government Master Plan shall be
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reviewed and revised every three (3) years.
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Sec. 5. E-Government Programs. -The E-Government Master Plan shall include
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the following programs:
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1. Philippine Government Interoperability Framev/ork. - A framework shall be
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developed to guide and govern basic technical and informational
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Interoperability of government ICT systems. Such 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 agenclesy in dealing with their various constituencies.
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2. Database and Other Resources Sharing Network. - A network shall be
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designed to allow agencies to access shared database and other resources
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in order to facilitate seamless validation, inquiry and research procedures,
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inter-agency cooperation and support, and regular exchange of datasets,
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studies and statistics towards effective policy making, monitoring and
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evaluation.
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3. Archives and Records Management System. - A system shall be designed
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to systematically and efficiently manage government documents and
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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
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to existing policies, laws and the standards of the International Organization
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for Standardization.
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4. Full Disclosure and Transparency System. - An open data system which
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allows the general public access to government information and other public
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interest documents, projects and transactions, and allows citizens to engage
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public officials in shaping public 
policies.
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5. Government Online Payment System. - An internet-based electronic
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payment facility and gateway that will enable citizens and businesses to
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remit payments electronically to government agencies shall be created. It


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shall render services through various delivery channels, which include debit
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instructions accounts (debit cards), credit instructions (credit cards) and
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mobile wallets (SMS).
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6. Citizen Frontiine Deiivery Services. - Services that are needed to facilitate
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business registration-related transactions shall be made efficient by
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Integrating all agencies involved in business registration, such as the
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Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission,
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Cooperative Development Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social
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Security System, Home Development Mutual Fund, Philippine Health
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Insurance Corporation, Local Government Units (LGUs) and other
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permit/license-issuing agencies.
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7. Pubiic Financiai Management - Various financial systems in government
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such as taxation, payment systems, accounting, business registries, shall be
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harmonized and managed.
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8. Procurement System. - An online and real-time service that encompasses
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all procurement processes Involving 
bidding, contract agreements, and
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payment for services or supplies shall also be developed.
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9. Cybersecurity Protection and Data Privacy Measures. -This refers to policies
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and safeguards that will ensure the protection of data and personal
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information against cyber security threats, breach of privacy, and illegal use
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of information.
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The E-Government Master Plan shall likewise include the following:
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1. Inventory and purchase of hardware and software of all government
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offices;
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2. Utilization of servers, network connections and data centers in all
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government offices;
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3. Security, disaster recovery plans and archiving considering existing services
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and capabilities, as well as future information systems;
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4. Standardization of systems across government agencies to promote
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interoperability and database 
management.
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Sec. 6. DICTSecretary as E-Government Head. - The Secretary of the DICT
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shall head the E-Government initiative. The Secretary is expected to spearhead all


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aspects of implementation of the E-Government Master Plan to catalyze the optimum
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use of ICT In government to expand and improve public services, government
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operations and capabilities.
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Sec. 7. Chief Information Officers. - Chief Information Officers shall be
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assigned and deployed to national and key governmental units and perform the
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following functions:
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1. Advise agencies on how best to leverage ICTs to optimize the delivery of
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public services, and achieve efficient and cost-effective operations;
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2. Develop, maintain and manage the agency's information systems;
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3. Manage and supervise the implementation of ICT-based projects, systems,
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and processes;
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4. Formulate and implement processes in relation to the adoption of ICT-based
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solutions as provided by the E-Government plan;
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5. Manage operational risks to ICT In coordination with the agency's
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management and stakeholders; and
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6. Ensure that the ICT programs and operations are consistent with national
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policies and standards.
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Sec. 8. Locai Government Unit (LGU) ICT Officers. - Each LGU shall have an
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ICT Officer assigned to manage and supervise its adoption of the E-Government Plan.
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The LGU ICT Officer Is likewise tasked to spearhead seminars and other means of
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educating the community to maximize the E-Government initiatives. 
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Sec. 9. E-Government Status Report. - Each agency and LGU shall compile and
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submit an annual E-Government Status Report on:
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1. The status of the Implementation of electronic government initiatives;
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2. Compliance by the agency with this Act; and
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3. Performance in delivering programs through the E-Government to
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constituencies.
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Sec. 10. Separabiiity Cause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 11. Repeaiing Cause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or


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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,