To promote a more efficient public service delivery and interoperability of government systems and applications, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) signed an Inter-Agency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 13 national government agencies (NGAs) on Monday, 25 April 2023 in Pasay City.
The signing of the MOU formalizes DICT’s collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), Home Development Mutual Fund (PAG-IBIG), National Printing Office (NPO), Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Credit Information Corporation (CIC), and National Commission for Senior Citizens (NCSC).
With the signing of the MOU, the DICT will develop additional applications and digital systems while providing consultations and trainings to personnel of its partner agencies. With these new applications and systems, the public can expect a more efficient and transparent delivery of services brought about by integration and streamlining of government operations.
In his speech, Secretary Ivan John E. Uy acknowledged the efforts of all the agencies involved and highlighted e-governance as an important step towards national digitalization.
“Today, we are going to formalize our united stance to streamline government services and address the many inefficiencies our citizens have been experiencing in the past. The President has been saying: ‘Our citizens have been engaging digitally with each other, but not with us.’ Today that is about to change. We will bring back digital engagement in the public sector to provide public service. Today, we are transforming government service into government as a service,” Secretary Uy asserted.
ARTA Undersecretary Gerald G. Divinagracia stated that the MOU will boost their partnership and will align ongoing initiatives, particularly in digitalizing government. “We want to make government services easy, fast and accessible to businesses and the general public. It is high time for the government to take advantage of technological innovations to enhance the way we deliver our services both internal and external through valued-driven digitalization,” he added.
Likewise, BTr Deputy Treasurer Atty. Gisela F. Lood encouraged government agencies to take full advantage of digital payment systems to improve government collection and disbursement efficiency. “The Treasury is looking forward to this partnership with the DICT as we work on digital payment that other government agencies may utilize to realize the efficiency and welfare that innovative financial technologies bring,” Lood asserted.
“Our digital transformation journey will be a different story without the support of the DICT,” BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. expressed in his message. “We will take this MOU as an opportunity to attain an expanded tax-based and increased tax collections for the years to come,” he said.
NPO Director Carlos A. Bathan also affirmed their commitment to ensure the integration and interconnection of each respective systems. “We shall prepare for the future digitalization of government accountable forms and other information materials while securing the authenticity, accuracy and transparency of those issued receipts,” Bathan concluded.
Other government agencies that earlier entered into the same MOU with the DICT include: Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, Landbank of the Philippines, Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, Mindanao Development Authority, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Provincial Government of Isabela, Land Transportation Office, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
