EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
<3Siu at t&e AeueUry
SENATE
s. No. 1433
20 APR 16 A9 26
Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
AN ACT
^ 
ALL PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES
WITH congressional FRANCHISES TO PROVIDE THEIR 
SUBSCRIBERS WITH FREE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution provides that,”[t]he State shall 
promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the security and 
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies and 
provide adequate social services, promote hill employment, a rising standard of living, 
and an improved quality of life for all.”
Initially conceptualized for the military of the United States of America as a 
defense network against nuclear war, the technological revolution widely called “the 
Internet currently caters to the entire international community and is rapidly 
evolving as a critical enabler of social and economic change, transforming how the 
government, industries and citizens interact, and offering new ways of addressing 
development challenges.
With technology rapidly changing our social landscape, it has now become 
imperative for the government to ride the tide of technological advancement in order 
to provide a more efficient, safer, and equitable public service, especially in times of 
calamity or public emergencies where information dissemination is vital to the society.
The First Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey has revealed that there is an 
upward trend in the proportion of internet users in the countiy since June 2006, with 
Metro Manila housing the most number of internet users. The same survey reported 
that the proportion of internet users was highest among 18-24 years olds at 86%.


Under the classification of educational attainment, the proportion is highest among 
college graduates at 79%.!
According to the annual digital report of “We Are Social and Hootsuite”, 
released last 2019, the Filipinos spend 10 hours and 2 minutes online. The Philippines 
also tops the world in terms of internet usage through laptop or desktops by spending 
5 hours and 4 minutes in fi-ont of it daily. These statistics is far from the global average 
of 3 hours and 28 minutes. The number of social media users in the country has 
likewise grown from 67 million to 76 million in 2019.2
While Filipinos indeed continue to adopt to evolving technology, according to a 
Philippine study conducted last 20143, there are clear indications that the Philippines 
is experiencing a ‘digital divide’” - with sixty-six (66) percent of the middle to upper 
class being Internet users, as compared to only thirty-five (35) percent and eighteen 
(18) percent of the poor and very poor classes, respectively. It is therefore apparent 
that there is a gap yet to be filled and this is what the proposed measure seeks to solve.
In light also of the current crisis and pandemic being experienced by eveiyone, 
it is imperative that information dissemination and cascading of official issuances are 
provided to each and every Filipino, to keep them aware and well-informed of various 
government actions. Free 24/7 access to government websites shall aid in their day- 
to-day decision-making and allow our fellow countrymen to be more discerning and 
participative in accessing and digesting information. Government forms and online 
government services, as in tbe matter of scheduling applications such as those for 
passports and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearances will also become 
more accessible to those in the far reaches of the country.
Ultimately, the bill presents a novel approach that seeks to contribute in the 
efforts toward achieving socio-economic growth for all, that is hinged on an engaged 
and active citizenry with full access to a robust flow of information about their own 
government. As South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela once said, “If we
1 Social Weatherstations. 4 June 2019. First Quarter of 2019 Social Weather Survey: Internet usage steady at 
46% of adult Filipinos. Retrieved from https://www.sws.ore. ph/swsm3in/artrlrii<;nn3PP/?artr-;\;Qrnr)p=fl rt_ 
20190604221437
Gonzales, Gelo. Rappler. 31 January 2019. "Filipirtos spend most time online, on social media-worldwide- 
report." Retrieved from https://www.rappler.eom/technoloev/news/222407-philippines-online-use-2019- 
hootsuite-we-are-social-report
3 Labucay. I. D. (2014). Patterns of Internet usage in the Philippines. In J.D. James (Ed.), The Internet and the 
Google age: Prospects and perils (pp. 27-49). Dublin: Research-publishing.net. doi: 10.14705/rpnet.2014.000176


cannot ensure that this global revolution creates a world-wide inform^ic^n so^^^]^^* 
which eveiyone has a stake and can play a part, then it will not have 
at all.”
n 
1 
o 1,. 
20 APR 16 A9 26
The approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
1 
• RECEIVED 05f:,
LBILAM. DE LIMA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
1433
S. No.
Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
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:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Free Access to 
Government Websites Act of 2020”.
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;


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Cb) Free access - shall mean the provision of full and uninhibited access to 
government websites by telecommunications entities without charging 
their subscribers of any fees;
(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 fi*ee 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. — Any 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 (Pi,ooo,ooo.oo) but not more than Ten million pesos 
(pio,ooo,ooo.oo) and/or suspension or revocation of its legislative franchise and
24 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.


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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid,
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other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain and continue to be
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in full force and effect.
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Sec. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the
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completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers
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of general circulation.
Approved,