EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1846
lui OATE:1Sept'232020
[iP
T^Mt=!J0:50 am
BY
•COJ
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ELECTRONICS DONATION AND RECYCLING PROGRAM
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With the launching of new models of mobile phones, laptops, tablets and other 
electronic gadgets almost occurring every year. It is expected that thousands, if not 
millions, of new gadgets flood the market on an annual basis. Users then frequently 
discard or dispose of their old gadgets for brand-new units, which in turn, contributes 
to the escalating electronic waste problem In our country. A study conducted by 
engineers from the University of the Philippines yielded an estimate that by 2021 the 
number of discarded phones will hit over 24.9 Million, with respondents saying that 
they were replacing phones at a rate of once every one to two years.1 This means 
that Filipinos are throwing out their gadgets despite not being totally unusable and 
not being beyond their estimated useful life. Some of this electronic waste may not 
even be "waste" at all.
This wastage is oblivious of the fact that access to an electronic gadget is 
severely skewed against or even almost inexistent for lower income households. A 
2020 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) revealed that 
only 69% of poor households have mobile phones, while only 1% and 6% of poor and
https://onenews.ph/phl-s-e-'waste-problem-over-24-m-phones-discarded-yearly-by-2021


low-income families have computers, respectively.2 With the shift to remote learning 
modalities for 2020-2021 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this digital 
divide Is rendered more evident. In the National Capital Region (NCR) alone, around 
648,405 public school students lack gadgets.3 On the side of our teachers, 13% of 
them have no laptops or computers at their home based on a recent Department of 
Education (DepEd) survey.4 This lack of access to gadgets to be used for distance 
learning, coupled with the problem concerning internet connectivity, may have forced 
some of our youth to skip school and not enroll for the current school year, or at least 
until they have procured the necessary tools and equipment.
The juxtaposition of the apparent wastage In the disposal of still-usable
gadgets, on one hand and the lack of electronic gadgets among our students from
poor and low-income households, on the other, serves as the primary motivation for
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this proposed measure. Under this bill, an Electronics Donation and Recycling Program 
shall" be established nationwide through which all manufacturers and retailers of 
electronic gadgets will be mandated to establish and set up donation and recycling 
booths within the premises of their sales outlets, stores, service centers and similar 
locations. This is for the purpose of processing and accepting electronic gadgets 
intended by their respective owners for donation and/or recycling. For collected 
gadgets which are Intended for donation, the recipient shall be the Department of 
Education (DepEd) for distribution to poor students, subject to appropriate guidelines 
to be issued by the said agency. For collected gadgets which are intended for 
recycling, the same shall be disposed of or turned over to Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources (DENR)-accredited facilities capable of recycling electronic 
gadgets and components.
Thus, this bill will serve two noble purposes at the same time - protecting the 
environment by controlling the unnecessary wastage of electronic devices and at the
2 https://www.pids.gov.ph/publications/7022
3 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1317951/deped-laments-dearth-of-devices
4 https://news.abs-cbn.eom/news/06/16/20/thousands-of-teachers-Iack-gadgets-intemet-to- 
cope-with-pandemic-deped


same time, bridging the digital divide that had hampered our poor students from 
participating fully in a modern educational system.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
lUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator ^


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No.
1846
mm
DATE
T>ME¥
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid.
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AN ACT .
ESTABLISHING AN ELECTRONICS DONATION AND RECYCLING PROGRAM
ALL OVER TH E COUNTRY
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Electronics Donation and 
Recycling Act"
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to promote and protect the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology In 
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. In consonance with this objective, the 
proliferation of electronic waste must be addressed through a program that 
encourages the proper recycling of electronic gadgets that will channel electronic 
waste to the appropriate disposal facilities and the donation of still fit-for-use gadgets 
to poor students.
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Section 3. Electronics Donation and Recycling Program. - All manufacturers and 
retailers of electronic gadgets shall be required to establish and set up donation and 
recycling booths within the premises of their sales outlets, stores, service centers and 
similar locations all over the country for the purpose of processing and accepting


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electronic gadgets intended by their respective owners for donation and/or recyciing. 
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology (DICT), .shall issue the specific 
guidelines regarding the layout, contents, sorting and recyciing processes, simple 
repairs required for donated Items and other relevant details for the operation and 
maintenance of these booths.
DTI shall maintain a publicly-accessible website containing the following: (1) 
detailed and updated list of sales outlets, stores, services centers, etc. which have 
donation and recycling booths within their premises; (2) contact information of those 
listed in no. 1; (3) basic information on electronics donation and recycling; and (4) 
hotline/s for inquiries, feedbacks and reporting of problems and issues.
Section 4. Destination of Collected Electronic Gadgets. - For collected gadgets 
which are intended for donation, the recipient shali be the Department of Education 
(DepEd) for distribution to poor students, subject to appropriate guideiines to be 
issued by the said agency. For collected gadgets which are intended for recycling, the 
same shall be disposed of or turned over to Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR)-accredited facilities capable of recycling electronic gadgets and 
components.
Section 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination 
with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and 
other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Section 6. Repealing Clause.—All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


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Section 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, Is held unconstitutional or Invalid, 
the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.
Section 8. EffecOvlty. Clause.—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
Its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,