The House of Representatives Committee on Information and Communications Technology wants to consolidate the E-Government and the E-Governance bills that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos had designated as priority measures.
In an attempt to merge the two priority measures, the panel carried a motion to form a technical working group (TWG) to do just that.
During a committee hearing on Monday, Sept. 5, chairman and Navotas City lone district Rep. Tobias Tiangco approved Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda’s motion to form the TWG.
“I think we should consolidate both bills under a single law or measure. And by way of motion, I ask that the honorable chair be authorized to form a TWG to discuss further the various elements of both bills and how these bills can be merged,” Salceda said in his motion.
The panel’s agenda for the day included deliberations for six House bills (HBs) pertaining to the E-Governance Act, also known as “Institutionalizing the transition of the government to e-governance in the digital age, appropriating funds therefor". These are HB Nos. 3, 1809, 2902, 2978, 3563, and 3612.
Meanwhile, there were five bills on the topic of the E-Government Act or “Establishing the e-government, defining its powers and functions, appropriating funds therefor". These are HB Nos. 277, 2683, 2731, 2963, and 34211.
One measure, HB No.2568, “Requiring the digitalization of frontline services of all government agencies and appropriating funds therefor”, also falls under the E-Government Act umbrella.
Section 39 of the House rules define a TWG as follows: “Technical working groups may be created and tasked to ensure that measures and their corresponding committee reports are carefully crafted and faithfully express the ideas, sentiments and consensus of the committee relative to said measures and reports.”