FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 
597 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Communication is a vital support system in the governance of any action. In 
our country, the importance of communication is underscored in Section 24 of 
Article 11 of the I987 Constitution: "The State recognizes the vital role of 
communication and information in nation building." 
The importance of social communication through mass media channels and 
information and communication technologies (ICT) cannot be overemphasized. As a 
developing nation, we must view information and communications as the key to 
empower our people. We have seen a woeful lack of focus on our communications 
systems and resources with government centering most of its efforts on developing 
infrastructures limited to roads, bridges and postal services without realizing the 
vital role of communications and information dissemination in ensuring the success 
of its development objectives. 
Although these concerns are important and necessary goals, Philippine 
communications must go beyond these. It must lead to the formation of a National 
Communication Policy that is wide in scope and breadth. It is hoped that through a 
Task Force on Philippine Communications, the emergence of communication 
structures suitable to the needs of the nation and responsive to the national goals 
may be realized. The task force shall rationalize the policy and planning efforts, not 
only of government, but also the private sector to make them relevant to our times. 
It will also identify existing gaps and disparities in the present system. 
We must realize that while we are guaranteed the freedom of information, 
and communication under our laws, we are likewise expected to take the 
responsibility of using these freedoms responsibly and toward a direction aimed at 
benefiting this entire nation. Through this Task Force, a framework will emerge 
allowing the transformation of present communication and information structures so 
that they can be made more responsive in creating balanced social and economic 
order that is supportive of the national goals. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of the bill is earnestly 
urged. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
CREATING A TASK FORCE ON COMMUNICATIONS TO REVIEW AND ASSESS 
THE STATE OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND 
RECOMMEND 
POLICY, 
INSTITUTIONAL 
AND 
INFRASTRUCTURAL 
MEASURES TO ENSURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SECTOR AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be if enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTlON 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Legislative Executive 
Task Force on Communication Act of 2007.” 
SECTlON 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State: 
a) 
To recognize the vital role of communication and information in nation 
building; 
To ensure all citizens, the right to communicate as a basic human 
right, by promoting accessible and efficient telecommunications 
infrastructures that will enable individuals and organizations to 
communicate with one another; 
To promote communication and information-sharing towards achieving 
social, economic, political, educational, and cultural development; 
To promote viable competition in mass media, new electronic media 
and telecommunications industries, in order to ensure the industries 
responsiveness to the needs and interests of the consumers and 
subscribers and of the general public, and to discourage and prohibit 
monopolies in the industries as public interest requires; 
e) 
To introduce legislative regulation and control in areas where 
necessary with a view to-safeguard the rights of children, cultural 
minorities and other disadvantaged sectors; 
b) 
c) 
d) 
SECTlON 3. Creation and Composition of the Task Force. - A Legislative 
Executive Task Force on Communication will be jointly created by the Senate and 
the House of Representatives, together with the Executive Branch of Government, 


to be composed of members from the Senate, the House of Representatives, the 
Executive Branch, and the private sector who shall endeavor to have the various 
regions of the country represented. 
SECTlON 4. Purpose and Objectives. - The Task Force shall be an ad hoc 
study body that will undertake a national review and assessment of the total 
Philippine communication system with the objectives of: 
a) 
Identifying the country’s communications and information service 
needs; 
b) 
Reviewing existing laws, directives, policy statements, legislative 
proposals and other documents on communications; and 
comprehensive National Communication Policy. 
c) 
Recommending an action plan leading to the formulation of a 
SECT/ON 5. Duties and Functions. - To carry out its objectives, the Task 
Review and assess the total Philippine Communication system; 
Report its findings on the following concerns: 
(i) 
(ii) 
sectoral targets; 
(iii) 
governance and management; 
(iv) 
communication development programs; 
(v) 
financing; 
(vi) 
(vii) 
(viii) 
Force will have the following duties and functions: 
a) 
b) 
goals and objectives of Philippine communications; 
distribution of telecommunication services across the regions 
and provinces; 
quality of services provided by operators; 
interconnection among all government offices and their linkage 
to the top office of the national government; 
SECTlON 6. Powers. - For exercising the foregoing duties and functions, 
the Task Force shall: 
prescribe and adopt the guidelines that will govern the national review 
and assessment ; 
approve the work plan for the conduct of the national review and 
assessment; 
recommend an action plan addressing the problems and needs 
articulated in the report of its findings; 
holding hearings, receive testimonies, reports, and expert advice on 
the stat us of communications in the Philippines, and on available 
remedies to identified problems; 
create technical secretariat to be headed by an executive director to 
provide necessary technical, management and staff services; 
report on its findings and make recommendations on actions which 
can be taken up either by the legislative or executive branches of 
government or the private sector concerned with communications and 
information development in the country; 
secure from any department, bureau, office of instrumentality of the 
government or the private sector such assistance as may be needed, 
including technical information; preparation and production of reports; 
and the submission of recommendations, or plans as it may require; 


h) 
hire and appoint such employees and personnel whether temporary, 
contractual, or on consultancy, subject to applicable rules: 
i) 
summons by subpoena duces tecum to produce before it such 
records, reports or other documents as may be necessary in the 
performance of its functions; and, 
j) 
generally to exercise all the powers necessary to attain the purposes 
for which it is created. 
SECTlON 7. Membership and Election of Officers. - The Task Force will 
be composed of the following: 
Three members from the Philippine Senate 
Three members from the House of Representatives 
The Secretary of the Department of Transportation and 
Communication 
The Commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission 
The Secretary of the Presidential Press Office 
The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry 
The Secretary of Department of Interior and Local Government 
President of the League of Provinces 
Three members from the Mass Media Sector 
Three members from NGO, cultural communities, and business sector 
Two members at large to be appointed by the President of the 
Philippines. 
The members of the Task Force will elect from among themselves a 
Chairperson and a Co-Chairperson and may establish standing committees from 
among its members and use resource persons from the public and private sectors 
as may be needed. The members of the Task Force shall receive no remuneration, 
but traveling and other necessary expenses shall be allowed. 
SECTION 8. Target period - The Task Force shall accomplish its mandate 
within twenty-four (24) months from its organization. 
SECTlON 9. Appropriations. - In order to carry out the objectives of this 
Act, the initial amount of Fifteen million pesos (Pl5,000,000.00) shall be charged 
against the current appropriations of the Department of Transportation and 
Communications. Thereafter such amount as may be necessary for its continued 
operation shall be included in the Fiscal Year 2008 General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof which are consistent with the provision of this act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 17* Effectivity. - This Act shall take fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,