The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) ( fil, Komisyon sa Teknolohiyang Pang-impormasyon at Pangkomunikasyon}) was the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, regulating, and administrative entity of the
executive branch of the Philippine Government that would promote, develop, and regulate integrated and strategic
information and communications technology
Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications ( telephone lines and wireless signals) and computer ...
(ICT) systems and reliable and cost-efficient communication facilities and services.
Established in 2004 by President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...
, it was abolished in 2011 by her successor,
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III (; February 8, 1960 – June 24, 2021), also known as Noynoy Aquino and colloquially as PNoy, was a Filipino politician who served as the 15th president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016. The son of ...
and folded with the
Department of Science and Technology. In turn, it was supplanted by the
Department of Information and Communications Technology.
History
Beginnings
The CICT was created on January 12, 2004, by virtue of Executive Order No. 269, signed by
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...
, as a transitory measure to the creation of a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The CICT was composed of the National Computer Center (NCC), the Telecommunications Office (TELOF), and all other operating units of the
Department of Transportation and Communications
The Department of Transportation (DOTr; fil, Kagawaran ng Transportasyon) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the maintenance and expansion of viable, efficient, and dependable transportation systems as eff ...
(DOTC) dealing with communications. The
National Telecommunications Commission
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC; fil, Pambansang Komisyon sa Telekomunikasyon) is an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology responsible for the supervision, adjudication and control over a ...
(NTC) and the
Philippine Postal Corporation
The Philippine Postal Corporation ( fil, Korporasyong Pangkoreo ng Pilipinas), abbreviated as PHLPost and also known as the Philippine Post Office, is a government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for providing postal services in t ...
(PhilPost) were also attached to the CICT for policy coordination. The CICT took over the functions of the Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Council (ITECC), which was subsequently abolished through Executive Order No. 334 on July 20, 2004.
Restructuring
Executive Order No. 454, signed on August 16, 2005, transferred the
NTC back to the
DOTC. According to EO 454, the transfer "will streamline bureaucracy operations." While the reasons for the transfer were unclear, there were discussions that placing the
NTC under the CICT would be a bureaucratic anomaly since it is unusual for a commission to fall under another commission.
Executive Order No. 603, signed on February 17, 2007, transferred the TELOF and all other operating units of the CICT dealing with communications back to the
DOTC. According to EO 603, the transfer "is necessitated by the present demands of national development and concomitant development projects as it will streamline bureaucracy operations and effectively promote fast, efficient and reliable networks of communication system and services." The transfer of the TELOF to the
DOTC left the CICT with just two agencies—the NCC and the
PhilPost
The Philippine Postal Corporation ( fil, Korporasyong Pangkoreo ng Pilipinas), abbreviated as PHLPost and also known as the Philippine Post Office, is a government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for providing postal services in th ...
.
Executive Order No. 648, signed on August 6, 2007, but published only on December 24, 2008, transferred the
NTC back to the CICT.
Executive Order No. 780, signed on January 29, 2009, transferred the TELOF and all other operating units of the DOTC dealing with communications back to the CICT, thereby returning the CICT to its original composition.
Current status
Several bills in the
Philippine Congress
The Congress of the Philippines ( fil, Kongreso ng Pilipinas, italic=unset) is the legislature of the national government of the Philippines. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, although colloquially the te ...
have been filed creating a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which would transform the CICT into an
executive department.
In the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
, a consolidated bill, House Bill No. 4300, was approved on third and final reading on August 5, 2008, and transmitted to the
Senate on August 11, 2008.
In the
Senate, a consolidated bill, Senate Bill No. 2546, was approved by the Senate Committee on Science and Technology on August 19, 2008, but had not made it past second reading by the time Congress adjourned session on February 5, 2010, which means the bill is as good as dead. It will have to be refiled in both the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
and the
Senate in the next Congress. With the failure of Congress to pass the DICT Bill, the legal basis of the CICT remains an executive order, which means the next President can abolish the CICT.
On June 23, 2011, Executive Order No. 47 was signed by President Aquino III. The order states that: "Reorganizing, renaming and transferring the Commission on Information and Communications Technology and its attached agencies to the Department of Science and Technology, directing the implementation thereof and for other purposes." Furthermore, "the positions of Chairman and Commissioners of the CICT are hereby abolished." The BPO stakeholders were surprised with the order and unhappy with the change.
Head of agency
Chairman
The CICT is headed by a chairman, who is a member of the
Cabinet
Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to:
Furniture
* Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers
* Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets
* Filing ...
with the rank of Secretary. The chairman is appointed by the
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
.
Additional responsibilities
Executive Order No. 561, signed on August 19, 2006, designated the CICT Chairman as the development champion of the
Cyber Corridor super region.
Republic Act No. 9369, signed into law on January 23, 2007, designated the CICT Chairman as the Chairman of the Advisory Council to the
Commission on Elections
An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
.
List of chairmen
Other officials
Commissioners
The CICT Chairman is assisted by four Commissioners, who have the rank of Undersecretary and are appointed by the
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
.
List of commissioners
Attached agencies
*Telecommunications Office (TELOF)
*
National Telecommunications Commission
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC; fil, Pambansang Komisyon sa Telekomunikasyon) is an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology responsible for the supervision, adjudication and control over a ...
(NTC)
*
Philippine Postal Corporation
The Philippine Postal Corporation ( fil, Korporasyong Pangkoreo ng Pilipinas), abbreviated as PHLPost and also known as the Philippine Post Office, is a government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for providing postal services in t ...
(PhilPost)
References
External links
Commission on Information and Communications Technology websiteExecutive Order No. 603Executive Order No. 780{dead link, date=August 2017 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes
House Bill No. 4300Senate Bill No. 2546
ICT
Information technology in the Philippines
Government agencies established in 2004
Government agencies disestablished in 2011
2004 establishments in the Philippines
2011 disestablishments in the Philippines
Establishments by Philippine executive order