QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday (June 14) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to enhance interoperability of e-governance systems. 

The MOU primarily integrates the areas of collaboration between the said agencies in terms of ensuring that their digital transformation efforts meet the service delivery needs of people. 

Undersecretary for Information and Communications Technology and Chief Information Office (CIO) Maria Francesca Del Rosario and DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy led the signing of the MOU during the Inter-Government Agency Memorandum of Understanding Signing for E-Governance. 

“As we leverage the power of ICT, transforming the government into an agile and efficient bureaucracy by encouraging government agencies and instrumentalities to adopt digital tools and technology, we hope to make great strides in enhancing public service delivery, promoting transparency, and positive accountability,” said Secretary Uy of DICT. 

"We’re very much supportive of this initiative of E-gov and we’re looking forward for more policy work in terms of integration of these applicationsーnot just on the tech but on the policy,” said DBM CIO Del Rosario, strongly indicating DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman’s initiative to establish a reliable digital governance that provides social protection and efficient network for employment opportunities. 

In a statement, the DBM also highlighted that its interoperability deal with the DICT is in response to the directive of the national government to push for the advancement of digitalization with reference to the key developmental agenda of the Marcos administration. 

Under the MOU, the DBM is committed to share relevant information and data that gives the DICT an insight into its budget and accounting processes as well as other existing rules and regulations that define its functions. 

Meanwhile, the DICT also inked an MOU with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) last June 13 in a bid to strengthen the data privacy of its members and pensioners amidst the pension fund’s thrust towards digitalization. 

Joining the agencies that already signed MOUs with the DICT include the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). (DBM/PIA-NCR)