Photo Release

Bypassing DICT: Sen. Ma. Lourdes Nancy S. Binay laments the “sad part” where the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been bypassed in the approval of digital projects, such as the Stay Safe App, which was not cleared by DICT but implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. During the hearing of the Finance Subcommittee C on the proposed 2022 budget of DICT Monday, September 20, 2021, Information and Communications Technology Sec. Gregorio Honasan II admitted that DICT deliberately delayed clearance on Stay Safe because the issue of control over the app has not been resolved. “We cannot give control to the private entity who is donating it. We delayed it deliberately because of due diligence,” Honasan said. “For me, DICT should always be on top of digital technology in government. Because for me, you have the core competency. Other departments should get clearance from DICT. I can see what Secretary Greg (Honasan) is saying, that in a way, there seems to be a turf war on who should handle digitization of agencies,” Binay said. Stay Safe App is the digital application used in contact tracing COVID-19 cases in the country. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)