Noynoy rejects proposed creation of infotech dept.

Presidential survey frontrunner Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Wednesday rejected a proposal to establish a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) despite some business groups’ support for its creation. In an ambush interview with reporters before a Makati City presidential forum, Aquino said he thinks a government agency focused on information and communication technology only plays a "supportive" role. "Not [as] a department," Aquino said, when asked about his opinions regarding proposals to establish the DICT. “I think it's a support mechanism, as opposed to...line agencies like DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), like DepEd (Department of Education)," Aquino said minutes before the People's Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) presidential forum began in Makati City. Aquino said he has reservations about creating a new department if gets elected president, saying the importance of many existing agencies have yet to be affirmed. "I'm still studying the need to create a new department. Ang problema lang, ang paniwala namin napakarami na tayong mga offices [and] officers who are not actually doing something useful (We think the government already has too many offices [and] officers who are not actually doing something useful)," he said, noting that there is currently an abundance of presidential consultants or advisers and department undersecretaries and assistant secretaries. The 14th Congress has not passed legislation proposing to make the Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT), which is currently under the Office of the President, a department. The PMAP, composed of several companies focused on human resources management, is pushing for the creation of a DICT. Last January, the Joint Foreign Chambers said it wants Congress to prioritize the creation of a DICT before the 14th Congress ends. [See: Foreign chambers trim wishlist of priority bills] While the House passed House Bill 4300 as early as August 2008 — the consolidated proposal to create a DICT — the Senate has yet to approve its counterpart measure, Senate Bill 2546. Congress adjourned session February 5 to allow legislators to focus on their election bids. After the election period, the Senate and the House of Representatives will return to work one last time from May 31 to June 4 but mainly for the canvassing of votes. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV