DICT pushes magna carta for government IT workers

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

May 19, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Information technology (IT) workers in state agencies will be prioritized next by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), hoping to secure higher pay and more benefits through legislation.

Information Secretary Henry Aguda yesterday said the DICT would be working with Congress in passing a magna carta for IT workers in government to improve their living conditions.

Aguda said the measure would provide IT talents the opportunity to earn more without having to go abroad, which is now becoming frequent in yet another case of brain drain.

House Bill (HB) 4749 seeks to establish a minimum compensation standard for IT workers. The standard will be developed by the DICT, and it must ensure that IT talents in the government are paid with industry rates.

HB 4749 also aims to put up a career progression ladder for IT professionals. Likewise, they will be covered by the continuing professional development program, so they gain access to training and workshops to hone their skills.

Further, the measure intends to finance a scholarship program to support educational aspirations in emerging technologies that may be crucial for the economy in the long run.

HB 4749 outlines the social welfare and benefits that IT workers must be granted, from standard working hours and overtime compensation, to comprehensive leave entitlements.

HB 4749, authored by Bicol lawmakers led by the Villafuertes, is awaiting discussion at the committee level.

Citing data from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, the proponents said there is a surplus of close to 172,000 IT talents in the Philippines as of 2025. However, they are reluctant to join the government because of lower salaries compared to overseas jobs.

Apart from the magna carta for IT professionals, Aguda said the DICT would also be prioritizing legislation against fake news. This will also include regulations on the use of deepfake, which is the manipulation of images and videos to make a person say or do something they never did.

Last week, Information Undersecretary Christina Faye Condez-de Sagon said the DICT wants to gain congressional approval to have takedown powers against fake news.

However, there are concerns that regulations on fake news may be abused by the government to prevent critics from voicing out opposition, hindering freedom of speech.