The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is set to streamline the Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) process by eliminating unnecessary requirements for government agencies.
In a statement Thursday, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said a new issuance will be released within the month, allowing agencies to proceed directly to budgeting their ISSPs without needing prior DICT clearance, as long as they follow established guidelines and standards.
“This reform directly supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ built on transparency, efficiency, and innovation,” Aguda said.
The reform is being carried out in collaboration with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and other key agencies.
The ISSP serves as a medium-term roadmap—spanning three to five years—that outlines how agencies will use information and communications technology to improve operations and public service delivery.
Previously governed under the Medium-Term ICT Harmonization Initiative (MITHI), the ISSP process was guided by Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2012-01, issued by the DBM, NEDA, and the then-ICT Office. Although MITHI operations ended in 2021, it was officially revived through Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-01 earlier this year.
“This revival reconstituted the MITHI Steering Committee and reaffirmed its role in guiding harmonized ICT investments across government,” Aguda said.
The timing of the ISSP reform is strategic, Aguda added, with the government preparing to make its largest investment in technology to date.
“The government’s going to spend the biggest amount of money on technology this year, by far, compared to previous years. We only have eight months to go [before the end of the year] — we need the processes to be efficient and effective,” he said.
