CICT dissolved!

The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) has been abolished by the issuance of Executive Order 47 on June 30 which downgraded the commission into an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Some other functions of the CICT will be given to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

Some groups are unhappy with this news. The country’s leading outsourcing trade associations have branded the issuance of the Executive Order 47 that dissolved CICT as arbitrary, and have called for the government to replace the defunct ICT agency with a full-fledged ICT department.

They were disappointed that EO 47 was issued without the benefit of extensive stakeholder consultation, believing that this would have been highly beneficial to the development and execution of public policy on the key ICT sector. They also believe that a deeper collaborative dialogue with all stakeholders before undertaking further major reforms is critical.

On the other hand, DOST Sec. Montejo said in a statement that, “the decision affirms the President’s commitment to align the government’s ICT infrastructure, program and plans with the strategy for inclusive economic growth and efficient governance by integrating ICT policies, programs, and resources with research and continuing innovation led by the DOST”.

Disregarding the various reactions, we can only hope that the government makes a clear judgment on which ones need change and a clear ICT blueprint that we can act upon.

James Anthony Mina #5