SEN. GUINGONA FILES BILL CREATING DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III has filed Senate Bill 2144, creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), effectively reorganizing the current structure of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Under the proposed measure, the DOTC shall be tasked to matters pertaining to transportation sector and shall be known as the Department of Transportation, while the DICT shall be tasked to ensure the provision of a strategic, reliable, cost-efficient, and 'citizen-centric' information and communications technology infrastructure, systems and resources as instruments of nation-building and global competitiveness.

"The development of communications technology, particularly the internet, has evolved rapidly that we can ill-afford to be left behind as a nation. For better or worse, the internet has changed the playing field and it is imperative upon the state to ensure the country's competitiveness in a globalized environment," Sen. Guingona said.

Sen. Guingona added that the government is mandated by law under the constitution to recognize 'the vital role of communications and information in nation-building.' Under the proposed measure, the DICT shall have its own Secretary that will be appointed by the President. All operating units of the DOTC with functions and responsibilities dealing with communications shall be transferred to the DICT.

"Having a department that would exclusively focus on issues relating information and communications technology (ICT) has become a vital need inasmuch as the internet has become an indispensable tool in bringing people together. As a growing industry, we need to ensure that ICT is regulated and that it will benefit the general public," he added.

Sen. Guingona said the creation of DICT will help immensely in protecting the welfare of the general public where information and communications technology is concerned.