Marcos inks E-Governance Act

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure institutionalizing the transition of the government to e-governance and strengthening the ICT Academy.

Republic Act No. 12254 stressed that the State recognizes the vital role of information and communication in nation-building and the necessity of leveraging the power of information and communications technology to drive national development and progress. 

The new law aims to promote the interoperability of government systems and processes through a consolidated process architecture, while allowing government agencies, offices, and instrumentalities to implement the proper controls and safeguards deemed appropriate on ICT and information assets.

This will also promote electronic transactions, particularly where mobility of citizens is restricted during disasters or pandemics. 

Under the law, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall adopt a national policy and process that promotes innovations, supports start-ups, and facilitates the entry and adoption of technologies consistent with the goals of the Act.

It shall formulate an E-Government Master Plan or its equivalent that will serve as a blueprint for the development and enhancement of all electronic government service processes and workforce to achieve digital transformation in the bureaucracy. 

Under the new law, the local government units shall establish their own portals or utilize the eLGU system developed by the DICT and its equivalent programs and systems.

The new law was inked last September 5, 2025. 

The E-Governance Act is among the bills that the President mentioned in his first State of the Nation Address.

The bill was approved in the Senate before the end of the 19th Congress. The counterpart measure of the bill in the House of Representatives was already approved on third and final reading before the Holy Week break last year. — RF, GMA Integrated News