It’s about time, isn’t it?
With just about five weeks to go before his term ends, President Benigno Aquino III on Monday signed into law Republic Act 10844 creating Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The said law recognizes the importance of information and communication in nation-building, Inquirer reports.
So what can we expect from the new department?
It’s many functions include ensuring free internet services for government offfices and public areas, consumer protection, industry development, and protection of privacy and confidentiality when it comes to ICT.
The DICT will be headed by a secretary, assisted by 3 undersecretaries and 4 assistant secretaries.
There will be a 6-month transition period for the transfer of functions, assets, and personnel.
As part of the re-structuring, units of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) with functions and responsibilities dealing with communications will transferred to the newly-created DICT.
The following agencies will be abolished and their functions will be transferred to the new department: Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO); National Computer Center (NCC); National Computer Institute (NCI); Telecommunications Office (TELOF); National Telecommunications Training Institute (NTTI).
The present Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will renamed “Department of Transportation.”
