Sherwin Gatchalian

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian made the call amid continuing complaints that some banks refuse to recognize the national ID as proof of identity because the card itself does not display the person's signature.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian made the call as the Senate Committee on Ways and Means is currently fine-tuning through a technical working group (TWG) the provisions of a proposed real property valuation reform measure, which he hopes would expedite the automation of LGUs across the country.

The tariff suspension, however, will not cover two-wheeled electric motorcycles in a bid to protect local manufacturers of tricycles.

While the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is eyeing short-course training programs for cybersecurity experts and software engineers, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said developing talent for cybersecurity should start from basic education.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to ensure that it would hit its target in rolling out Internet connection in public places, including educational institutions.

Under the proposed Public School Database Act, the DepEd is mandated to create a database that contains learner information, while the bill proposing the establishment of the Philippine Death Check (PDC) Register aims to set up a centralized electronic database containing mortality data.

Despite the approval of the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, only 945 public basic education schools or about two percent of public schools nationwide have free public Wi-Fi as of January 29, 2022. Meanwhile, there are at least only 10 reputable higher education institutions offering distance education despite the passage of the Open Distance Learning Act.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said that online scammers usually use or buy SIM cards in the black market that are registered with e-wallets under people who sell or lend their identities.

Under Senate Bill No. 477 or the Philippine Online Library Act, the Department of Education (DepEd) is mandated to create digitized copies of all textbooks and reference books it deems necessary for the public education of our elementary and secondary learners.

The enrolled copies of the bills on the registration of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards and the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act were transmitted to Malacañang last March 15 and 17, respectively, for the president’s signing.