Mandating Government Agencies To Migrate To The Government Web Hosting Service (Gwhs) Of The Department Of Science And Technology-Information And Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO)

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Administrative Order No. 39

Establishment of the Government Web Hosting Service (GWHS)
- DOST-ICTO shall administer, operate and maintain the GWHS to ensure the government's internet presence 24/7. (Section 1)
- GWHS shall host websites of NGAs, GFIs, GOCCs, and inter-agency collaborations, programs and projects. (Section 1)
- Hosting of websites of Constitutional Bodies, LGUs, and other autonomous branches of the government by DOST-ICTO is encouraged but at their instance. (Section 1)
- GWHS shall start operations within 60 days from the effectivity of this AO. (Section 1)

Responsibilities of the Implementing Agencies
- DOST-ICTO shall administer, operate and maintain the GWHS, pursuant to policies, rules and regulations set by NDSCG, and ensure efficiency, integrity and reliability of GWHS, hosted websites and online services. (Section 2)
- DOST-ICTO shall provide technical and capacity building assistance to hosted government agencies. (Section 2)
- NDSCG shall issue the Philippine Uniform Website Content Policy (UWCP) and its implementing rules and regulations. (Section 2a)
- PCDSPO shall administer the implementation of the UWCP under the direct control and supervision of NDSCG. (Section 2a)
- DOST-ICTO shall provide technical assistance to PCDSPO to develop and implement policies, rules and regulations prescribed by NDSCG. (Section 2b)

Responsibilities of Other Government Agencies
- Hosted agencies shall produce and regularly update the contents of their websites, subject to the UWCP and its implementing rules. (Section 3a)
- Hosted agencies shall develop online services offered through their websites, subject to prevailing policies, rules and regulations of the government. (Section 3b)
- Hosted agencies shall employ a webmaster duly designated by the Head of Agency. (Section 3c)

Migration of Existing Website
- All NGAs, GFIs, GOCCs, and inter-agency collaborations, programs and projects shall completely migrate their websites to the GWHS within 1 year from the effectivity of this AO, without prejudice to contractual rights of existing web hosting providers, if any. (Section 4)
- All migrated websites to the GWHS shall make their content compliant with the UWCP within 180 days from its issuance. (Section 4)
- Current web hosting contracts of government agencies shall not be renewed and all covered agencies must refrain from entering into any new web hosting contracts upon the effectivity of this AO. (Section 4)
- NDSCG shall determine the priority of migration of existing websites, but websites that have been defaced or rendered inaccessible by unauthorized parties within the last 6 months shall be given priority. (Section 4)
- DILG, with the assistance of DOST-ICTO, shall advocate to LGUs the adoption of UWCP and the migration of their websites to the GWHS. (Section 4)

Government IP Exchange and Data Peering
- DOST-ICTO shall establish a Government Internet Protocol (IP) Exchange (G/IPX) facility. (Section 5)
- All government agencies shall ensure that they exchange data traffic with other government agencies and external stakeholders through this G/IPX facility. (Section 5)

Cost of Operating the Facilities and Services of the GWHS
- DOST-ICTO shall include in its annual appropriations the amounts necessary for the personnel services and its maintenance and other operating expenses. (Section 6)
- DOST-ICTO may be allowed to charge fees from its subscribers for the use of its facilities and services on a cost recovery basis to fund its variable expenses, in accordance with AO No 31 (s. 2012). (Section 6)

Use of the Electronic Government Fund (e-Gov Fund)
- DOST-ICTO is authorized to set aside a Website Migration Fund to be sourced from e-Gov Fund, subject to existing laws, rules and regulation. (Section 7)

Reports
- NDSCG shall submit reports, annually and/or as often as maybe required by the President, relative to the implementation of the provisions of this AO. (Section 8)

Repealing Clause
- All issuances, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this AO are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. (Section 9)

Separability Clause
- Should any provision of this AO be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting. (Section 10)

Effectivity
- This AO shall take effect immediately. (Section 11)