The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) signed on Tuesday, March 24, the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 12254, or the E-Governance Act, formalizing the rollout of a unified digital framework for government services.
The signing, held at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Mandaluyong City, operationalizes the law by setting standards for interoperability, cybersecurity, and streamlined service delivery across agencies, according to the DICT.
The new law requires government agencies to adopt common technical standards, re-engineer processes, and prioritize cybersecurity to enable integrated and citizen-facing digital services.
It also complements the approval of the E-Government Master Plan (EGMP), which outlines the country’s broader digital transformation strategy, including shared systems and governance mechanisms.
DICT secretary Henry R. Aguda said the move marks the transition from planning to implementation.
“Today, we move from intent to implementation — from plans to real, measurable change in how the government works, and more importantly, how it serves the Filipino people,” Aguda said.
“This is about removing friction, cutting red tape, and making sure every Filipino, wherever they are, can access government services efficiently.”
The E-Governance Act institutionalizes the use of digital technologies across all branches of government, including local government units and state universities, covering both public-facing and internal systems. It aims to reduce manual processes, improve service delivery, and enable secure data sharing across agencies.
Under the law, the DICT serves as the lead implementing agency, tasked with issuing standards, coordinating with government and private sector partners, and monitoring compliance.
The framework also mandates the creation of interoperable platforms for services such as payments, procurement, and human resources, alongside stricter cybersecurity and data privacy requirements.
Other provisions include the designation of chief information officers in agencies, the establishment of a national ICT academy for workforce development, and the adoption of performance monitoring systems to assess digital maturity across the bureaucracy.
Key agencies such as the Anti-Red Tape Authority and the Department of Budget and Management backed the initiative, emphasizing the need to align funding, workforce capacity, and institutional processes with digital transformation goals, the DICT said.
