Ex-DICT staff blames DICT chief for eGov budget crunch

A former staff of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has blamed the agency’s leadership for the funding constraints that hit the government’s eGov platform, saying in a Facebook post that the issue was not due to lack of available funds.

Tirso Raymond Gutierrez, former chief of staff to DICT Undersecretary for eGovernment David Almirol Jr., alleged on a Facebook post that decisions under DICT Secretary Henry Aguda led to the program being deprived of critical resources, including funding for cloud services.

Gutierrez rejected the narrative that the problem was purely financial, saying the cause was internal. “I was there. I know what really happened,” he wrote.

Gutierrez said the eGov initiative was sidelined in budget allocations despite its rapid adoption. “Akalain nyo bang ang eGov lang ang ZERO ang Tier 2 budget?” he wrote.

He described the eGov team as a small, startup-style unit that built multiple platforms used by millions of Filipinos, despite limited support.

Gutierrez also alleged in his post that Undersecretary Almirol was subjected to internal pressure and treatment within the agency.

“Love ko talaga itong si Usec Dave pero ptng *nang (pardon my French) sobrang kabaitan nyan, ayaw nyang lumaban… I witnessed how they personally persecuted Dave even on budget presentations. Binastos, paulit-ulit na pinahiya sa harap ng buong DICT staff pati during execom at sinasadyang pahirapan siya para mag-resign na lang,” he wrote.

He claimed that one of the actions taken was the restriction of budget allocations for the eGov program.

“Isa na dyan ang pang-iipit ng kanyang budget… while the other divisions… were allocated billions,” he added, noting that he had access to internal budget documents during his time in the agency.

Gutierrez said he was involved in efforts to secure funding for the platform, including preparing presentation materials submitted to the Office of the President during the time of former DICT Secretary Ivan Uy.

“I am saying this because I am fully aware of his and former Sec. Ivan Uy’s presentation to PBBM for this matter. Isa ako sa gumawa sa presentation deck niya para humiling ng budget sa cloud services at iba pang kailangan ng eGov, kasi super liit ang budget at wala talaga sa line items ang mga bagong systems na ginawa nila Usec,” he wrote.

He added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was supportive of the initiative and had approved funding, including allocations intended to separate cloud services for the eGov app and the digital national ID from other government systems.

“And in fairness, sobrang supportive si PBBM sa eGov team. Alam kong nag-allocate ng budget para mahiwalay ang cloud services ng eGov app at digital national ID kasi nakahalo ito sa sangkatutak na iba pang eGov platforms together with hundreds of government agencies’ cloud subscription,” he wrote.

Gutierrez said the team was aware that without separating these systems, a surge in usage could affect overall performance. “We knew that when the time comes, that when a sudden surge of usage should happen, all the other systems including the eGov app would be affected,” he wrote.

However, he said the approved funding was not released and was not increased despite the platform’s rapid adoption.

“Pero hindi na-release ang budget na ‘yan at hindi man lang dinagdagan ng budget despite the massive adoption we were observing for the eGov platform,” he wrote. “And worst, inipit nang inipit kaya walang na-release na budget para sa cloud services,” he added.

Gutierrez said the lack of funding affected system capacity, particularly as demand for the platform increased.

He also alleged that under Aguda’s leadership, funding flows were restricted and requests for additional resources, particularly cloud capacity, were not acted upon.

Gutierrez said he decided to speak out publicly through Facebook to address the issue. “I cannot stay silent knowing fully well what the truth is,” he wrote.

In his post, he also addressed Undersecretary Almirol directly.

“Again, I really would have decided to keep mum. But I even need to raise this question and ask Usec Dave. Hanggang kelan ka magtitiis dyan? I know you’d feel embarrassed because of this post, but this will be my last, even if you exclude me as your friend. I don’t care, because people and even Malacañang have to know the truth and nothing but the truth,” he wrote.

Gutierrez currently holds leadership and advisory roles in academe and healthcare, including serving as Vice President for Finance at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, as well as board advisory positions at De La Salle University and East Avenue Medical Center.

He brings decades of experience across banking, fintech, and insurance, having held senior roles at Union Bank of the Philippines, including Vice President for Retail and Consumer Banking, and later leading bancassurance operations under a UnionBank subsidiary. Gutierrez also served as Country Head of Robocash Corp., Chief Business Strategist at Areza Group, and Country Managing Director of Grover Pte Ltd.