FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUeLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
8 OCT - 7  i-r - 
Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As technology increases, more and more people rely on Automated Teller 
Machines (ATMs) as a method for doing daily banking tasks. While many ATM's 
currently have braille labels indicating the functions of some buttons, most machines do 
not have any non-visual method for reading or relaying the sequence of messages that 
appear on the screen. 
A law addressing this concern is not only prudent, but necessary, to ensure that all 
individuals have an equal opportunity to access these machines. 
This bill provides the standards for our ATMs to make them more accessible to 
our visually impaired citizens. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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BY ' .. _. 
SENATE 
S.B.NO. 2GG4 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
MAKING AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES ACCESSIBLE TO THE VISUALLY 
IMPAIRED. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act may be known as the "ATM Visually Impaired 
Friendly Act". 
SECTION. 2. Definitions. 
a) BANKING INSTITUTION. - A network of commercial, savings, and 
specialized banks that provide financial services, including accepting deposits and 
providing loans and credit, money transmission and investment facilities. 
b) VISUAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. - 
display of information by an automated teller machine. 
Shall mean the graphic 
c) AUDIO TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. - Shall mean a system that recites 
with sonic clarity through a personal listening device substantially the same 
information that is conveyed by a visual transmission system. 
d) PERSONAL LISTENING DEVICE. - Shall mean earphones or other 
similar receiver designed to transmit audio information to an individual, which 
receiver is placed in the individual's ear or held up to the ear such that only that 
individual can hear such audio information. 
SECTION 3. Automated Teller Machine Requirements. - Every banking 
institution shall maintain the following requirements with respect to each of the 
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automated teller machines within its dominion and control to provide equal access for all 
individuals: 
a) Any automated teller machine installed on or after the effectivity date 
of this Act shall transmit any message through both (i) a visual transmission 
system, and (ii) an audio transmission system. 
b) Any automated teller machine installed prior to the effective date of 
this Act shall, whenever an upgrade or replacement of such automated teller 
machine becomes necessary, be upgraded or replaced in such a manner so that 
such automated teller machine shall transmit any message through both (i) a 
visual transmission system, and (ii) an audio transmission system. 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION6. Effectivity Cluidse. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
afrer its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved. 
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