MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is looking into reviving the Medium-Term Information and Communications Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI), its official said on Saturday.
MITHI aims to harmonize ICT-related programs, resources, and projects in government agencies and institutions.
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“Iyong sa government network na interrelated, mayroon na po kaming facility ngayon. Ibinabalik na namin iyong MITHI; ito ay pag-uusap — the Medium-Term IT Harmonization Initiative — iyon po ang ibig sabihin ng MITHI,” said DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy in a news forum.
(We already have facilities that are interrelated in the government network, and we are now reviving the MITHI. This is a discussion about the Medium-Term IT Harmonization Initiative—that is what MITHI means.)
Dy said that the initiative is in partnership with the Department of Budget and Management.
“Upang lahat ng mga IT projects, kasama na iyong cyber security projects, ipadaan sa DICT, sa DBM, kasama na rin ang NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority), DOF (Department of Finance) para kapag ginawa ang budget, alam din namin na iyong binibili consistent and within the ambit of what can work together,” he added.
(To ensure that all IT projects, including your cyber security projects, go through the DICT, along with the DBM, including NEDA and DOF, so that when the budget is prepared, we also know that what is being purchased is consistent and within the ambit of what can work together.)
During the forum, Dy also urged other government agencies to enforce the policy that devices and equipment used for work should not use any non-work-related software that might pose potential hazards.
“Sa ngayon ang ibigay lang namin ay guidance; huwag ninyong gagawin kung hindi work-related,” the official said.
(For now, what we are giving is guidance; do not do it if it is not work-related.)
Dy added that the DICT might issue an order to ban activities and software from being downloaded and used through government-owned devices.