In the middle of this year, Senate Bill 2686 of the
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Act of 2015 was
approved on Third and Final Reading by the Philippine Senate of the 16th
Congress.
Senate Bill Number 2686 (SBN 2686) authored by Sen.
Ralph G. Recto, Committee on Science and Technology chair aims to promote ICT
expertise and promote digital literacy in the country.
SBN 2686 is part of the key economic reform
legislation geared towards meeting the developmental challenges that needs to
be overcome in order for the country to be competitive in the 21st
Century. Also, it has the ASEAN Market Integration as its initial hurdle since
the country must be at par with other ASEAN economies.
As per SBN 2686, the DICT would be the primary
department in charge with developing, planning and promoting the government’s
ICT Agenda. The DICT would link all government ICT resources and networks under
an integrated and harmonized network. It would also link databases and networks
of government institutions and agencies. This will help improve services,
expedite information requests and beef up consumer protection policies . By
having a DICT, permits, licenses, land titles and other government services can
be electronically applied for, processed and issued.
The DICT will be tasked to encourage the growth of
the ICT and ICT related industries by promoting investment opportunities for
ICT firms and even ICT related start-ups, create local and international
partnerships to speed up industry growth and competitiveness.
The DICT will work with the Department of Education
(DepEd) and TESDA to mainstream ICT in schools and manpower development centers.
The DICT will merge ICT-related agencies under DOST and DOTC namely, the ICTO,
NCC, National Computer Institute, Telecommunications Office and the National
Telecommunications and Training Institute (NTTI). Also, the DCT will have under
its umbrella the NTC, National Privacy Commission Cybercrime Investigation and
Coordination Center. These will be for coordination and implementation of cyber
security policies and programs of the country.
SBN 2686 will be harmonized with the House of
Representative version in a bicameral committee meeting. The House version is
on its First Reading.
SBN 2686 is a consolidation of bills filed by
Senators Recto, Loren Legarda, Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV, Joseph
Victor Ejercito, Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, Juan Edgardo "Sonny"
Angara, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV,
Jinggoy Estrada, Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Cynthia Villar.
0 Comments