Gov’t harnesses full potential of ICT for nat’l growth

MANILA, Philippines -  The ongoing implementation of  the Medium-Term Information and Communications Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI) remains one of the government’s key reforms  in a bid to harness the full potential of the information and communications technology (ICT) for national development, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said recently.

Launched in January this year, the MITHI is designed to synthesize ICT operations among all government departments and agencies, as well as ensure the consistency of the government’s ICT platform with President Aquino’s  social contract with Filipinos.

The project is under the supervision of the DBM, the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ICTO), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The National Competitiveness Council, Chief Information Officers Forum Inc., and Philippine Association of Government Electronics Engineers  also serve as advisory members in the implementation of MITHI.

“Although our departments and agencies have long been equipped with ICT systems to enhance the efficiency of their work, the functions of these systems continue to be disparate and loosely integrated across the bureaucracy. MITHI addresses the urgent need to harmonize these ICT resources, especially in view of inter-agency programs that require the timely and seamless exchange of information,” Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad said.

Under MITHI, departments and agencies have been asked to submit a comprehensive inventory of their existing, ongoing, and proposed ICT-related programs, projects, and resources, as well as rationalize these same resources and translate them into a strategic, three-year e-Government Master Plan (EGMP).

The EGMP — which was formulated by DOST-ICTO — will be the singular authoritative strategic blueprint for Philippine e-governance. It is meant to update the Government Information Systems Plan (GISP), which was rolled out in July 2000 to computerize key frontline services and operations in government.

As part of the budget preparation process for 2014, MITHI will likewise ensure coherence and compatibility among ICT programs and projects across government, as well as their alignment with the Administration’s five Key Result Areas (KRAs) and the Philippine Development Plan.

“Through this project, we intend to broaden the ICT capacity of our departments and agencies, and consequently, boost the delivery of key goods and services to the public,” Abad said.

“At the same time, MITHI gives the bureaucracy a venue to exercise true collaboration in the budget preparation process. We’re seeing departments and agencies engage in fruitful discourse on their ICT needs and proposed solutions, especially in view of our larger development plan and long-term growth strategy,” Abad added.

 The local ICT industry is seen to contribute $50 billion to the government’s total direct revenues by 2016.  This is on top of the $150 billion in indirect investments in the economy through real estate, transport and telecommunications, banking, taxes and others.