Accountability in e-Government fund

A lot has been said about the news of CICT demotion. As there are some developments that are happening as of this writing, I guess what I can do is just give some sort of a backgrounder.

This article was first published in GMANews.TV (April 8, 2008)

Accountability in P10-B e-Government fund

The Commission on Information and Communications Technology, under the Office of the President, is currently working on a roadmap for the information and communications technology sector. I consider this a welcome news, but at the same time, vigilance must be exerted to ensure that this gets done with the interest of the Filipino people in mind.

One component of this big document is the Government Information Systems Plan or GISP. Supposedly, the GISP should serve as basis for all ICT spending in government. Under the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 8972 or the E-Commerce Law, the document should have been updated to reflect the e-government requirements and make them compliant under the law.

However, since 2005, the GISP was not updated and most projects being undertaken through the fund in relation to the nearly P10 billion worth of e-government spending is very much ad-hoc. As most of the projects since 2002 are still in progress, hardly is there any audit report to date showing how the fund is used on a per project basis.

There must be clear accountability and responsibility as mandated by existing laws as far as the E-Government Fund is concerned.

For instance, the basis for the creation of the E-Government Fund is a mandate in the E-Commerce Law. It required the Department of Budget and Management to allot a budget from savings to fund the e-government requirements of the law.

The CICT got the task to select projects to be approved, despite the absence of an updated GISP. It is also an active recipient of the fund, amounting to more or less P200 million year after year (based on COA audit report of 2006). The reason behind CICT's task is its being an ICT office and its role in the inevitable formation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

To avoid doubts on the processes undertaken by CICT, there should be transparency in the implementation of projects. Decision-making on project selection and the parties involved must be explained. Reports on projects approved, the budget, rationale, and verified status of the projects can be posted on their site. 


Additional info:

• Do we need an IT Commission (July 10, 2003)

General Appropriation Act Notes (E-Government Fund started in 2002. It was in 2007 where the provisions of the E-Commerce Law, GEPCSET (Electronic Payment in Government), and Cybercrime provisions were inserted as requested by former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr.):

• E-Government Fund in General Appropriations Act of 2007
• E-Government Fund in General Appropriations Act of 2008
• E-Government Fund in General Appropriations Act of 2009
• E-Government Fund in General Appropriations Act of 2010
• E-Government Fund in General Appropriations Act of 2011

ICT4ALL: Innovation, Technology & Diversity

It has been awhile since I updated this blog. However, it seems destiny brought me to the path of cyber legislation again and will resume active role soon. Will be giving a talk today in ICT for Development. 

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The National Computer Institute (NCI) of the National Computer Center (NCC) will hold a one-day Tech Talk entitled “ICT4All: Innovation, Technology & Diversity” on  June 7, 2011, from  9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Audio Visual Room, Ground Flr., NCC Building, C.P. Garcia Ave., Diliman, Quezon City. This is in  line with the celebration of the National IT Month this June, and the 40^th anniversary of the NCC.

Speakers include experts in their respective fields giving 30-minute presentations on an informal atmosphere with some Q & A. Topics include:

1. Social Networks, Social Impact, Mr. Ruben D. Canlas, Jr.
2. Information Security Governance, Mr. Solomon B. Anastacio
3. ICT for Development (eGovernment Situationer/ICT for Fighting Corruption), Ms. Janette Toral
4. ICT BPO Road Map, Mr. Raymond Lacdao
5. Unconference Session : Crime Prevention and Safety Tips, PSupt. Adriatico B. Del Camat Jr.
6. Free and Open Source Software: A Viable Option in Government, Prof. Ariel Betan
7. Green ICT to Address Climate Change, Ma. Gerarda Asuncion D. Merilo

Interested participants have to confirm their participation with Ms. Lina R. Sancho at telephone number 920-0101 loc 2611 or email address lrsancho@ncc.gov.ph. Only confirmed participants will be accommodated. 

Post event. Here is my presentation deck:

ICT4ALL: ICT for Development

View more presentations from Janette Toral

Reserve a copy now: Internet User's Guide to E-Commerce Policies

I've been talking about updating my 2004 E-Commerce Workshop Book for quite sometime now. However, whenever I attempt to get on to it, the content growth is just overwhelming. It made me worried that it may take longer than expected.

As a result, we are coming up with an E-Commerce for Entrepreneurs series and this is the first book that shall come out of it.

Target release date is November 2009. (Supposedly February 2009 but decided to make it coincide with the E-Commerce Summit & DigitalFilipino Web Awards 2009.)

Each chapter will have a mind map and a guide per page explaining the details of the policy.

The outline of the "Internet User's Guide to E-Commerce Policies" shall be as follows:

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Becoming an I.T. Policy Advocate & Lobbyist
• The E-Commerce Law
• Chapter 3: E-Commerce Law
• Chapter 4: E-Commerce Law IRR
• Chapter 5: Rules on Electronic Evidence
  
• SME Policies
• Chapter 6: Financing for Information Technology Build-Up (SME-FIT)
• Chapter 7: Government Procurement Policy Board Resolution No. 07-2006
  
• Consumer Protection
• Chapter 8: Data Log Retention of Telecommunications Traffic (NTC)
• Chapter 9: DTI Administrative Order #8: Prescribing Guidelines for the Protection of Personal Data in Information and Communication Systems in the Private Sector
• Chapter 10: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular No. 542: Consumer Protection for Electronic Banking
• Chapter 11: Consumer Protection Guidelines (NTC)
• Chapter 12: Advertising Standards Code
• Chapter 13: Internet and Mobile Advertising Code of Ethics
  
• E-Government
• Chapter 14: DTI-DOF Joint Administrative Order #2: Guidelines Implementing R.A. 8792 on Electronic Payment and Collection System (EPCS) in Government
  
• Chapter 15: Copyright
• Chapter 16: Cybercrime
• Chapter 17: E-Commerce Policy Implementation Challenges
• Chapter 18: Moving Forward

All DigitalFilipino.com Club members are entitled to a free copy of the book. SME members will get 2 copies while Corporate members shall get 3 copies. Individual members will get 1 copy.

More info:

• Mind map of the book
• Author profile.
• Recognition received for policy and legal contributions.
• Motivation behind the book project.

The following are entitled to get a free copy upon release of the book

• Iggy
• Christa Uymatiao
• Jonel Uy
• Arlene Nietes Satapornvanit
• Arbee
• Fitz Villafuerte
• Gladys Barrer
• Cesar Noel
• Paul Villacorta
• Geoffrey Chua
• Noel Feria
• Meikah Delid
• Robstroy
• Pvegetah

E-Commerce Policy Awareness & Development Workshop for Enterprises

(May 2 & 5, 2008)

The inspiration to come up with this latest book project, Internet Users Guide to E-Commerce Policies, started in an E-Commerce Policy Awareness & Development Workshop that I arranged for club members last May 2008. I had the opportunity of teaching the same workshop again last February 17, 2009 to one of the biggest banks in the country.

(February 17, 2009)

The value add that I put forward in such workshops, despite being a non-lawyer, was the behind the scene stories of these policies due to my direct or indirect involvement.

Application developers today should be cautious if their programs and output generated can be undisputed as evidence in court - if and when the need arises.

By the understanding the Philippine E-Commerce Law, companies will be able to assess and identify which of their current programs processes information or data that may be required to be presented as evidence later on and ensure integrity by design.