By John Mark V. Tuazon
Computerworld Philippines
July 30, 2010

After much speculation in recent months regarding the fate of the government’s Commission on ICT (CICT), news broke out this morning that Ivan Uy, a lawyer and former CIO of the Supreme Court, has been given the ICT portfolio, according to various sources.

Prior to the appointment, Commissioner Monchito Ibrahim stood as the commission’s caretaker on hold-over capacity until the recent appointment of Uy as the secretary of CICT. Confirming the appointment, Ibrahim told Computerworld in a text message that Uy has not assumed office yet.

Esperanza Espino, current president of the CIO Forum—a group of current government CIOs— also told Computerworld Philippines over the phone about Uy’s appointment as CICT chief.

“I think it’s true, but he has yet to be sworn in,” the former CIO of the BCDA (Base Conversion and Development Authority) remarked.

Uy, also a long-time columnist of Computerworld Philippines, was formerly the president of the CIO Forum Foundation (CIOFF), a group of former government CIOs pushing for IT-related projects in government.

Prior to his appointment, Uy served as the CIO of the country’s High Court, pioneering the automation of various technology systems across the entire judiciary. He has worked closely with various Chief Justices in crafting and planning for the computerization of processes in Philippine Judiciary.

Uy’s appointment may propel various groups’ moves calling for the government to establish a central body governing ICT in government, or a Department of ICT. CIOFF has, for many years, called on the government to appoint a government CIO to orchestrate IT implementations across various government agencies.

Currently, the CICT stands on unstable ground as it has been formed merely by the execution of executive order number 269 in 2004, meant to be a transitory commission preceding the establishment of a full-fledged department of ICT.

The said agency, however, failed to see the light of day, as bills filed for the creation of this measure were snubbed during the 14th Congress.

The Aquino administration, however, remains mum regarding the legal fate of the commission. Commissioner Ibrahim, however, earlier noted that they will still continue to lobby in Congress for the establishment of the DICT even if they have not been asked to stay in their posts by the current administration.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Philippine BPO industry hails Senate’s passage of cybercrime bill
• You don’t deserve more time, says judge to Facebook, Google: report
• Oracle asks for retrial against SAP in TomorrowNow case
• Microsoft opens C++ extension for other compilers
• Prepare Your Business for Facebook Mobile Ads

 Print This Post