NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S.B. No.
SENATE2490
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23 NQV 17 P2 :43
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Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
PROVIDING FREE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES 
FROM TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDERS,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 24 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "the State 
recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building." Further, 
Article III, Section 7 of the Constitution guarantees the right of the people to 
information on matters of public concern.
Over the years, the use of internet services in the country has greatly increased 
in various sectors and industries such as manufacturing, services, education and even 
in the public sector. The dependence on internet in conducting daily activities was 
accelerated when COVID-19 pandemic struck and the default mode of doing things 
was online and virtual.
At present, one of the most pressing concerns regarding internet connection is 
its accessibility, particularly for government services. The Philippine government has 
not maximized the reach and power of internet connection in delivering government 
services to the people. While telecommunication companies provide free access to 
selected applications, government websites are not accessible for free. As such, 
services, benefits and grants from government are rarely publicized and hence seldom 
availed of by citizens in need.
In an effort to harness the power of the internet for the benefit of the people, 
this bill requires internet service providers and public telecommunication entities to 
provide free access to government websites.


For the abovementioned reasons, the immediate passage of this bill is 
necessary.
IMEE R. MARCOS


of the
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
23
RECEIVED 8V;
17 P2 57
SENATE
s.B. No. 2490
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
PROVIDING FREE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES 
FROM TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDERS,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title.
2 
Government Websites Act"
- This law shall be known as the "Free Access to
3 
Section 2. Definition of Terms. - The terms shall be defined in this Act, as
4 
follows:
5 
(a) Internet Service Providers or "ISP" shall refer to an entity, with or without a
6 
Congressional franchise, registered as a value-added service (VAS) provider
7 
from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to build, install,
8 
operate, and maintain an Internet network in order to offer Internet access
9 
services to the public for compensation; and
10 
(b) Public Telecommunications Entity or "PTEs" shall refer to any person, firm,
11 
partnership, or corporation, government or private, engaged in the provision of
12 
telecommunications services to the public for compensation.
13 
Section 3. Coverage. - All public telecommunication entities and internet service
14 
providers shall provide free access to government websites to enable the government
15 
to provide information through online services to the people.
16 
Section 4. Lead Agency. - The Department of Information and Communications
17 
Technology (DICT) shall be the lead agency in the implementation of this Act. The DICT
18 
shall coordinate with the other departments and/or agencies, as may be necessary, to
19 
implement free access to all government websites.


1 
Section 5. Penalty. - Failure of any internet service provider or public
2 
telecommunication entity to provide free access to government websites under this Act
3 
shall be ground for suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of the PTE's Provisional
4 
Authority or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, or cancel the registration
5 
of an ISP, whichever applies, including the waiving of any pre-termination fees of
6 
affected subscribers and timely disbursement of any remaining credits from excessive
7 
downtime. The foregoing is without prejudice to any other remedies available to the
8 
NTC under existing law/s.
9 
Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
10 
the effectivity of this Act, the DICT and the NTC shall promulgate the necessary rules
11 
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
12 
Section 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
13 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are
14 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
15 
Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any separable provision of this Act be
16 
declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall continue to be in force.
17 
Section 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
18 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,