Cebu Provincial offices may soon replace pirated computer applications with licensed software as the provincial government seeks a major increase in funding for its Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) in 2027.
ICTO head Jeanette Saluba told provincial lawmakers during budget deliberations that several departments have been using unauthorized applications for years, including software needed for engineering, agriculture, environmental management and waterworks operations.
“All the application tools, engineering, agriculture, PENRO, waterworks they are using…these are unlicensed. All cracked, pirated so to speak,” Saluba said.
She explained that computers running cracked applications cannot be safely integrated into the provincial government’s network because its antivirus system could detect and delete the unauthorized programs.
“Because the moment our Anti-virus read those cracked softwares, it will be deleted,” she said.
The disclosure came as Board Member Red Duterte questioned the ICTO’s proposed 2027 Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), which would increase from an expected expenditure of more than P800,000 this year to P31 million.
Saluba said much of the proposed allocation would cover software requirements across provincial offices, as the ICTO plans to help other departments shift to licensed applications.
The office is also seeking additional funds for employee training, including courses on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, which Saluba described as highly technical and costly.
Its proposed MOOE includes an additional P200,000 for training and P50,000 for travel expenses.
Separately, the ICTO is seeking an additional P10 million in personal services funding to prepare for its proposed reorganization into a full-fledged provincial department.
Provincial Budget Officer Danny Rodas said the amount would serve as an initial funding provision once the necessary ordinance receives approval.
He added that the province might need additional funding depending on the number of positions to be created and funded under the restructuring.
Board Member Malcolm Sanchez said an ordinance proposing to reorganize the ICTO into a department with five divisions had been introduced and was undergoing its first reading.
Sanchez said the proposal followed an initial meeting with Saluba to establish a more structured organizational setup for the province’s information and communications technology operations.
The proposed 2027 ICTO budget remains subject to the provincial government’s budget approval process, including scrutiny of allocations for software licensing, personnel expansion and other technology requirements.
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