With increasing cybersecurity threats in government and in response to the digitalization bid of the country, the Department of Information Communication and Technology (DICT) said on Saturday they are planning to revive the Medium-term Information and Communications Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI).

Under this initiative, the DICT will be in partnership with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the approval of IT projects in government offices, Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy told a news forum in Quezon City.

“Iyong sa government network na interrelated mayroon na po kaming facility ngayon, ibinabalik na namin iyong MITHI ito ay pag-uusap – Medium-Term IT Harmonization Initiative – iyon po ang ibig sabihin ng MITHI,”Dy said.

“Ito po ay pakikipag-ugnayan namin sa Department of Budget and Management upang ang i-a-approve namin iyon iyong binabanggit po ninyo upang lahat ng mga IT projects kasama na iyong cybersecurity projects ipadaan sa DICT, sa DBM kasama na rin ang NEDA, DOF para kapag ginawa ang budget alam din namin na iyong binibili consistent and within the ambit of what can work together,” he said.

According to the DICT website, MITHI aims to harmonize ICT-related resources, programs and projects in all government agencies and institutions. This would ensure that there is a systematic process for the planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of government-wide ICT projects.

In the same forum, Dy also made call for government agencies to strictly implement the policy where office devices and equipment should not have non-work related softwares that may cause potential risks.

“Sa ngayon ang ibigay lang namin ay guidance—huwag ninyong gagawin kung hindi work-related,” he said.

Dy said they might issue an order to prohibit activities and softwares from being operated through government-owned equipment. PND