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Tired of bureaucracy? RA 12254 might be the breakthrough
DECODED: TECH, TRUTH, AND THREATS
By Art Samaniego
After years of stop-start ICT projects, redundant portals, and disconnected databases, the Philippines finally has a law that can tie everything together, the E-Governance Act (RA 12254).
Signed into law by President Marcos this September, the measure doesn’t just push agencies to go digital, it forces the government to think and act digitally by default.
For too long, digital transformation in government has been a piecemeal process. A few agencies innovate, while others lag behind, leaving citizens to juggle multiple logins, paper requirements, and long queues. The E-Governance Act changes that equation.
The law addresses a need that the Philippines has had for years. It mandates interoperability across agencies. No more silos, no more “one system here, another system there.” Instead, we get a unified digital backbone through the Integrated Government Network (IGN), Integrated LGU portals, and centralized citizen-facing platforms.
This isn’t just about technology. It’s about accountability. By requiring government agencies to integrate their systems, securely share data, and publish information through standardized portals, the law closes loopholes for inefficiency and corruption.
Some critics see the law’s designation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology as too powerful. I see it as overdue. Someone has to lead. In the past, digital projects were scattered across departments, with no single agency setting standards for them. The DICT, armed with clear legal authority, can now ensure coherence.
Requiring every agency to appoint a Chief Information Officer (CIO) may seem like a burden for small LGUs, but it’s also the best way to guarantee digital transformation isn’t left to chance. These CIOs will be the champions of change, professionals who can bridge tech, policy, and service delivery.
The creation of the Philippine Infostructure Management Corporation (PIMC) is a potential game-changer. With a ₱5-billion authorized capital, PIMC can now handle big-ticket infrastructure projects, such as broadband, cloud, and data centers, in a manner that aligns with national goals.
Yes, it’s ambitious. However, consider the alternative of leaving critical infrastructure entirely to private companies, whose priorities are profit-driven rather than public-service oriented. With PIMC, the government gains a corporate arm that can plan, invest, and innovate without being trapped by annual budget cycles.
The law is also future-proofed with cybersecurity and resilience in mind. By requiring Vulnerability and Penetration Testing (VAPT) for Critical Information Infrastructure, and mandating Public Service Continuity Plans, it acknowledges the hard truth that digital services are only as good as their ability to withstand attacks and disasters.
Add to this the provisions on Privacy by Design and Privacy Impact Assessments, and we see a law that isn’t just about speed, but also about trust. Filipinos will not adopt e-services if they don’t feel their data is safe. The Act makes data protection a built-in, not an afterthought.
At its heart, the E-Governance Act is about citizens. From digital payments to integrated frontline services, from online portals to accessible e-bulletin boards, the law cuts red tape not by slogans, but by code.
Imagine a world where getting a driver’s license, paying taxes, applying for a passport, and checking government notices can all be done through a single secure platform. That’s not science fiction anymore, it’s now the law.
Of course, challenges remain: funding, training, and cybersecurity gaps won’t disappear overnight. But the Act provides the legal scaffolding that has long been missing. Implementation will take time, but at least we now have a clear map and the force of law to guide the journey.
In the digital era, the government cannot afford to remain analog. The E-Governance Act is the boldest step yet toward ensuring the Philippines doesn’t just survive, but thrives, in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where technologies interact, evolve, and reshape systems at every level.
The E-Governance Act won’t fix everything. But it’s a start. It provides the country with the digital infrastructure it has needed for years. Think of it not just as another law, but as the scaffolding for 21st-century public service.