The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday said it is releasing new guidelines this month aimed at streamlining the Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) process for all government agencies.
In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to streamline operations across all levels of government, the DICT will reform the ISSP process to pave the way for a faster and more people-centered public service delivery.
The DICT will reform the ISSP process in coordination with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and other key agencies, Information, Communications and Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said in a statement.
“We will come up with a department circular sometime, by the end of this month, where all ISSPs of all government agencies can proceed to budgeting without DICT taking it anymore,” he said.
Through the circular, government agencies will be able to move directly to budgeting their ISSPs without requiring prior DICT clearance, as long as they stick to established guidelines and standards.
The ISSP is a medium-term, three to five-year roadmap outlining how agencies intend to use information and communications technology to support their operations, improve public service delivery, and achieve their vision, mission and goals.
The ISSP process was guided by the Medium-Term ICT Harmonization Initiative (MITHI), a government-wide program launched by the DBM, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the former ICT Office, the predecessor of the DICT.
MITHI provided a framework to align ICT projects with national goals and ensure strategic coherence across the public sector.
In 2021, Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-01 formally concluded MITHI’s operations, but it was officially revived through Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-01.
This reconstituted the MITHI steering committee and reaffirmed its role in guiding harmonized ICT investments across government.
The reform in the ISSP process comes at a time when the administration of President Marcos is preparing to make its largest-ever investment in technology.
“The government’s going to spend the biggest amount of money on technology this year, by far, compared to previous years,” Aguda said.
“We only have eight months to go (before the year ends). We need the processes to be efficient and effective,” he added.
With this initiative, the DICT affirms its commitment to ensure that no one is left offline, the department said.
“By empowering agencies to swiftly process their ICT requirements, the DICT is reshaping public service for a digital future that is faster, smarter, and responsive to the needs of Filipinos,” it added.
