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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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'13 
WG 29 °5 :Q4 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1435 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As technology increases, more and more people rely on Automated Teller Machines 
(ATMs) as a method for doing daily banking tasks. While many ATM's cUlTently have Braille 
labels indicating the functions of some buttons, most machines do not have any non-visual 
method for reading or relaying the sequence of messages that appear on the screen. 
A law addressing this concern is not only prudent, but necessary, to ensure that all 
individuals have an equal opportunity to access these machines. 
This bill provides the standards for our A TMs to make them more accessible to our 
visually impaired citiziia1s.' 
• This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 


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Seywtr 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS or THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
{!)ff.;, of iq' jb"rplarV 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
AUG 29 P5 :05 
SENATE 
S.No. 1435 
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_________________________ 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
MAKING AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES 
ACCESSIBLE TO THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "ATM Visually Impaired 
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Friendly Act." 
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SECTION. 2. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act, the term-
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A. 
BANKING INSTITUTION shall refer to a network of commercial, savings, and 
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specialized banks that provide financial services, including accepting deposits and providing 
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loans and credit, money transmission, and investment facilities. 
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B. 
VISUAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM shall mean the graphic display of 
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information by an automated teller machine. 
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C. 
AUDIO TRANSMISSION SYSTEM shall mean a system that recites with sonic 
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clality through a personal listening device substantially the same infonnation that is conveyed by 
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a visual transmission system. 
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D. 
PERSONAL LISTENING DEVICE shall mean earphones or other similar 
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receiver designed to transmit audio information to an individual, which receiver is placed in the 
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individual's ear or held up to the ear such timt only that individual can hear such audio 
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information. 
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SECTION 3. Automated Teller Machine Requirements. - Every banking institution shall 
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maintain the following requirements with respect to each of the automated teller machines within 
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its dominion and control to provide equal access for all individuals: 
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A. 
Any automated teller machine installed on or after the effectivity date of this Act 
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shall transmit any message through both (i) a visual transmission system, and (ii) an audio 
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transmission system with a personal listening device. 
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B. 
Any automated teller machine installed prior to the effective date of this Act 
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shall, whenever an upgrade or replacement of such automated teller machine becomes necessary, 
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be upgraded or replaced in such a maimer so that such automated teller machine shall 
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transmit any message through both (i) a visual transmission system, and (ii) an 
audio 
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transmission system with a personal listening device. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or iSSUallCe, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect filleen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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