SONA 2022 PROMISE TRACKER: CORRUPTION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

“The voluminous records stored in the government warehouses and archives have to be digitized. Those that are already stored in various inventories of data should be harmonized and shared across departments and agencies.”

(SONA 2022)

• As of publishing, the DICT’s National Government Data Center (NGDC) program has four active data center facilities, and provides colocation to 26 government agencies.
• The DICT’s GovCloud program, launched in 2018, aims to create integrated cloud services across different government agencies. It currently provides hosting services to 94 government websites.
• However, DICT Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. told the Senate during a budget hearing on Sept. 21, 2022 that the department lacks the manpower and budget to sustain research and development, including on cybersecurity,  for e-governance solutions.

“I have therefore tasked the DICT to deploy digital connectivity across our various islands. This will be done through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, the common tower program, connecting our Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) via our ‘Broad Band ng Masa’ project.”

(SONA 2022)

• As of June 5, there are 4,757 free Wi-Fi sites across the country’s 17 regions, including 75 provinces and 606 cities and municipalities. This also includes those in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas such as  Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Pag-asa Island.
• In April, an initial 100 gbps link-up between Los Angeles, California and cable landing stations in San Fernando, La Union started phase 1 of the National Fiber Backbone program. This link-up is part of the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure which aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity in northern Luzon and Metro Manila.

“A reform mechanism that seeks to enhance the government’s institutional capacity to perform its mandate and to provide better services, while ensuring optimal and efficient use of resources.”

(SONA 2022)

• The National Government Rightsizing Program (NGRP) aims to minimize and eliminate redundancies in government processes. It is not yet a law.
• On March 14, the House of Representatives passed the NGRP Act on third reading. Four counterpart measures are pending at the Senate committee level.

“Which aims to establish an effective regulation of commercial activities through the internet or electronic means to ensure that consumer rights and data privacy are protected, innovation is encouraged, fair advertising practices and competition are promoted, online transactions are secured, intellectual property rights are protected, and product standards and safety are observed.”

(SONA 2022)

• The Internet Transactions Act aims to regulate online commercial activities to protect data privacy, intellectual property rights and promote fair advertising. It is not yet a law.
• On Dec. 12, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the Internet Transactions Act on third reading.
• A consolidated version of the bill’s counterpart in the Senate is pending second reading. It was certified as urgent by President Marcos in May.

“It promotes the use of internet, intranet and other ICT to provide opportunities for citizens.”

(SONA 2022)

• The E-Governance Act aims to make government services more available and accessible online.
• On March 6, the House of Representatives passed the E-Governance Act on third reading. Seven bills on e-governance are pending at the Senate committee level.
• While the E-Governance Act is not yet a law, the Marcos administration launched in December the e-Gov Super App: an online platform for multiple government services.