The House of Representatives is starting to take an interest in legislation that aims to effectively deploy digital technology across the nation.
Congress is leading the charge in enacting laws that would guarantee that the nation’s adoption of digital technology is flexible, inclusive, and progressive, according to Representative Arjo Atayde of Quezon City’s First District.
Atayde noted that the House has always acknowledged the potential of digitalization to revolutionize the country while speaking at the 31st Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) Roundtable of Young Parliamentarians.
He stated that legislators hope “to utilize digital technologies to promote interconnectivity, broaden our reach, and improve our responsiveness to our people’s needs.”
According to Atayde, Congress has recently passed House Bill No. (HB) 7327, also known as the E-Governance Act, “to harmonize and coordinate the digitalization efforts of all government offices and agencies,” in addition to Republic Act No. 10844, which established the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
One of the main writers of the bill, Atayde, continued, saying that the Open Access in Data Transmission Act (HB 6), which was enacted by the House, addressed worries that digitization “risks widening educational, socio-economic, and urban-rural inequalities.”
“The proposed legislation lays the groundwork for a data transmission industry that is open, fair, and interoperable,” the legislator stated.
“It is my belief that stimulating private sector involvement is key to ensuring our country’s digital transformation is as inclusive as possible,” he stated.
The lawmaker further noted that the House passed the SIM Registration Act, the Data Privacy Act, and the Cybercrime Prevention Act because it understood the necessity to strike a balance between digital innovation and security.
The APPF was founded in 1993 and advocates for parliamentary discourse and multilateralism. “Resilient Partnerships for Peace, Prosperity, and Sustainability” is the topic for this year.
