THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC 0 
First Regular 
Introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Communication is a vital support system in the governance of any action. It has 
clearly been a part of every civilization in every state of development. In our country, 
the importance of communication is underscored in Section 24 of Article I1 of the 1987 
Constitution: "The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in 
nation building." 
The importance of social communication through mass media channels and the 
new information and communication technologies (ICT) cannot be overemphasized - 
the very reason for the emergence and constant use of the phrase, "information is 
power". As a developing nation with the goal of achieving the status of an industrializing 
and agricultural self-sufficiency in Southeast Asia, we must view information and 
communication as the key empowering the masses of our people. 
Yet, while this is so, a look into the Philippine National Development Plan (I999 - 
2004), the blueprint of the country's development plans, reveal that in terms of 
communication policy and planning, the Philippine government seems to be limited to 
telecommunications and postal services. 
This is so despite the framework set out by Section 24 of Article II of the 1997 
Constitution which had been previously cited. On the whole, these past decades have 
seen a woeful lack of focus on our communications systems and resources with 
government centering most or 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 of the Philippines in 
the 21"' century, Philippine communications must go beyond these. It must lead to the 
formation of a National Communication Policy that is wide in scope and breadth. The 
absence of this in the PNOP has fed to the lack of enabling legislation on provisions 
relating to Philippine Communications. 
Cognizant to this problem, this Joint Legislative-Executive Bill provides a more 
defined direction in communication policy and planning. 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 (as well as 
the years ahead). It is also envisioned that the Task Force will be able to identify 
existing gaps and disparities in the present system to that a more balanced social 
economic order can be realized. 
In addition, a policy framework and for the institutionalization of the country’s 
communication planning efforts shall address the need of having all communications 
and information-dissemination organizations, including mass media agencies, owners 
and workers to direct their united efforts with the nation’s development and welfare as 
the primary objective. 
The Philippine is now at the verge of becoming a so-called information society. 
. 
Our nation is a part of the global village and as such should keep abreast with the 
peace 
of 
these 
external developments 
while 
adequately utilizing existing 
communications resources back home to our advantage and for the primary purpose of 
succeeding at a unified national objective. 
We must realize that while we are guaranteed the freedom of information, and 
communication under our laws, that as citizens of this Republic, we are likewise 
expected to take on 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. 
DA 
Senator 


L 
. ... 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
TASK FORCE ON C O ~ M U ~ l C ~ T t O ~  
TO REVIEW AND ASSESS THE 
STATE OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND RECOMMEND 
POLICY, INSTITUTIONAL AND INFRASTRUCTUWAL MEASURES TO ENSURE THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SECTOR AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Legisiative Executive Task 
Force on Communication Act of 200.2.’’ 
SECTION 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 
a not her; 
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 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
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; 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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) 
b) 
Reviewing existing laws, directives, policy statements, legislative 
Identifying the country’s communications and information service needs; 
proposals, and other documents on communications; and 
comprehensive National Communication Policy. 
c) 
Recommending an action plan leading to the formulation of a 
SECTION 5. Duties and Functions. - To carry out its objectives, the Task 
Force will have the following duties and functions: 
a) 
b) 
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) 
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; 
(vii) 
(viii) 


SECTION 6. 
Task Force shall: 
Training benefits and development of persons involved in 
communications; 
Status of Philippine communication system in regional and global 
sce n ar i 0; 
Conduct 
and 
utilization of 
communication 
researches by 
government and NGO. 
Powers. - For exercising the foregoing duties and functions, the 
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 
status 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; 
hire and appoint such employees and personnel whether temporary, 
contractual, or on consultancy, subject to applicable rules; 
summons by subpoena duces tecum to produce before it such records, 
report$ or other documents as may be necessary in the performance of its 
functions; and, 
generally to exercise all the powers necessary to attain the purposes for 
which it is created. 


SECTlON7. Me 
an 
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- The Task Force will be 
composed of the following: 
Three members from the Philippine Senate 
Three members from the House of ~ e p r ~ s e n t a t i ~ ~ s  
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 perio 
- The Task Force shall accomplish its mandate 
within twenty-four (24) months from its organization. 
SECTION 9. Appropriations. - In order to carry out the objectives of this 
Resolution, the initial amount of fifteen million pesos (PI 5,000,000.00) shall be changed 
against the current appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives under 
the Fiscal Year 1999 General Appropriations Act. Thereafter such amount as may be 
necessary for its continued operation shall be included in the Fiscal Year 2000 General 
Appropriations Act. 
SECTION I O .  Repealing 
use. - 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 11. 
. - This Act shall take 
d fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,