Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES GRANTED WITH 
CONGRESSIONAL FRANCHISES TO PROVIDE THEIR SUBSCRIBERS WITH FREE 
ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The current COVID-19 pandemic exemplified the need for better dissemination of pertinent 
information and government issuances to the public. One of the problems encountered during 
the earlier months of the COVID-19 pandemic is the influx of rumors, conspiracy theories and 
reports of stigma around COVID-19 in social media channels—making it more difficult for people 
to identify what is factual and what is not. This created a misinformation problem during the 
earlier months as there is a huge number of Filipinos who only rely on free social media access 
provided by some internet providers, and thus have no means of verifying information from official 
government websites. With most internet packages being too costly for poor Filipinos, it is 
important that the government adopt measure to ensure that public information can be easily 
accessed without incurring extra charges.   
This measure is proposed with the goal of making pertinent information from government entities 
more accessible to the public. This shall require public telecommunication entities to provide free 
access to all government websites. To aid public telecommunication entities in the provision of 
this service, the Department of Information and Communications and Communications 
Technology (DICT) is mandated to assist government agencies to ensure that their respective 
websites can be accessed with minimal data requirements. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 6, 2022
9:40 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES GRANTED WITH 
CONGRESSIONAL FRANCHISES TO PROVIDE THEIR SUBSCRIBERS WITH FREE 
ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Free Access to Government Websites 
Act". 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State hereby recognizes the vital role of information 
and communication technology in nation-building, and declares it as a state policy to promote an 
environment that would ensure the availability and accessibility in the internet of official 
information from the government, and about government operations. Towards this end, the State 
shall mandate the public telecommunication entities granted with a Congressional privilege to 
operate as such to contribute in the promotion of availability and efficiency of access to 
government and lessen the digital divide in the country. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – 
a) Government website – a website recognized by the DICT and being maintained for the
government, whether national or local, including its agencies, departments, and
corporations or enterprises that it owns or controls, with the main purpose of
communicating official issuances, government transactions affecting public interest, vital
information on the operations of the government, and other matters of legitimate public
concern;
b) Free access – shall mean the provision of full and uninhibited access to government
websites by telecommunications entities without charging their subscribers of any fees;
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c) Public telecommunications entity – any person, firm, partnership or corporation, 
government or private, engaged in the provision of telecommunications services to the 
public for compensation; 
 
d) Subscriber – any person who uses, enjoys and pays for the services of public 
telecommunications entities; 
 
e) Telecommunications - any process which enables a telecommunications entity to relay 
and receive voice, data, electronic messages, written or printed matter, fixed or moving 
pictures, words, music or visible or audible signals or any control signals of any design 
and for any purpose by wire, radio or other electromagnetic, spectral, optical or 
technological means. 
Sec. 4. Free Access to Government Websites. – All public telecommunication entities are 
required to provide free access to all government websites. To ease the burden of public 
telecommunication entities in their compliance with this Act, the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT) is mandated to assist government agencies in ensuring that 
their respective websites can be accessed with minimal data requirements.  
 
Sec. 5. Penalties. – An  public telecommunications entity who is found to have violated the 
provisions of this Act shall be punished with a fine of not less than One million pesos (P 
1,000,000.00) but not more than Ten million pesos (P 10,000,000.00) and/or suspension or 
revocation of its legislative franchise and other permits and license by the National 
Telecommunications Commission (NTC).  
 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DICT, as lead implementing agency 
that will oversee the effective and efficient implementation of this Act, shall promulgate the 
necessary implementing rules and regulations within one hundred twenty (120) days from the 
effectivity of this Act.  
 
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations, other issuances or 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, other parts or 
provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain and continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,