Department of Information and Communications Technology in a Nutshell

by Fanboy SEO · May 24, 2016

So I’m jotting this new government mandate that abolishes DOTC and introduces the DICT or Department of Information and Communications Technology courtesy of outgoing Philippine president Benigno Aquino III.

Aquino signed the new law on March 23rd. It was released to the public via Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.. OK maybe “abolish” is too big a word, I guess the proper word should be renamed; DOTC has been simplified to Department of Transportation.

The new law which is properly referred to as RA 10844 states that information and communication have vital roles in nation-building and that it is the state’s policy to “ensure universal access to quality, affordable, reliable and secure ICT services.”

It should also “ensure the provision of a strategic, reliable, cost-efficient and citizen-centric information and communications technology infrastructure, systems and resources as instruments of good governance and global competitiveness.”

Wordy I know, but its important that we lay that down.

Since they’ve essentially split DOTC in half now, there will be movements of different agencies that used to work under the DOTC. Note that these agencies are now under the umbrella of the newly minted DICT. They include:

Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO)
National Computer Center (NCC)
National Computer Institute (NCI); Telecommunications Office (TELOF)
National Telecommunications Training Institute (NTTI)
and all operating units of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) with functions and responsibilities dealing with communications

Now let’s look at the Functions of the DICT as well as the requirements for officials who wish to work for this government branch:

Competent officials
“As provided for in the law, the DICT shall be headed by a Secretary, who will be assisted by three (3) Undersecretaries and four (4) Assistant Secretaries,” Coloma said.

He said two of the three undersecretaries and two of the four assistant secretaries should be career officers.

“One of the four (4) Assistant Secretaries shall also be a licensed professional electronics engineer,” the secretary said.

The law requires that the secretary and his undersecretaries and assistant secretaries should have “at least seven (7) years of competence and expertise in any of the following: information and communications technology; information technology service management; information security management; cybersecurity, data privacy, e-Commerce, or human capital development in the ICT sector.”

Functions

Regional offices will be created to help implement plans and programs while there is an option to form “sectoral and industry task forces.”

RA 10844 provides for 6 months transition period “for the full implementation of the transfer of functions, assets and personnel.”

The new law defines information and communications technology as “the totality of electronic means to access, create, collect, store, process, receive, transmit, present and disseminate information.”

Its powers and functions include policy and planning; improved public access; resource sharing and capacity-building; and consumer protection and industry development.

Credits: Inquirer.net