ef t!»# i ^ f f r t l n r f
lg ^
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
)
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
RECEIVED l¥t
SENATE
S . B . N 0 . . 1 2 7 7
(In substitution of S.B. Nos. 58, 190, 816, and 1050)
Prepared Jointly by the Committees on Science and Technology; Education , Arts and Culture 
and Finance w ith Senators Pangilinan, Pacquiao, Recto, and Aquino IV as Authors thereof
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE FREE INTERNET ACCESS PROGRAM IN PUBLIC SPACES IN THE COUNTRY
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
SECTION 1, Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Free Internet Access in Public Places
2 
Act."
3
4
5
6 
7
SECTION 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  The State hereby recognizes the vital role of information 
and communications technology in nation-building, and declares its policy to promote an 
environment for the development of structures that would ensure the availability and 
accessibility to reliable and secure internet access suitable to the needs and aspirations of the 
nation.
8 
Towards this end, the State shall establish a program that will provide free access to internet
9 
service in public places throughout the country, to promote knowledge-building among citizens
10 
and enable them to participate and compete in the evolving information and communication
11 
age.
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
SECTION 3. Free Public Internet Access Program. -  There is hereby created a Free Public 
Internet Access Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program. The Program shall involve the 
establishment of the infrastructure, installation of equipment, and the creation of an online 
platform and application necessary to provide free internet access to the public in government 
offices and public places throughout the country.
The internet service provided in the Program shall be separate from the internet service used 
for backend computer systems and programs, databases, and/or management and information 
systems in government offices; Provided, That the shared use of infrastructure shall not be 
prohibited.
21 
SECTION 4. Lead Implementing Agency. -  The Department of Information and Communications
22 
Technology (DICT), shall be the lead implementing agency that will oversee the effective and
23 
efficient implementation of this Act.


2
3
4
5
The DICT is tasked to coordinate with relevant agencies and stakeholders in the formulation, 
development, and maintenance of a comprehensive plan and schedule for the rollout of the 
Program.
SECTION 5. Coverage o f the Program. -  Public places and government offices to be covered by 
the Program shall include the following:
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
29
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
(a) All national and local government offices;
(b) Public basic education institutions;
(c) State universities and colleges;
(d) Public hospitals and health centers;
(e) Public parks, plazas, and libraries;
(f) Public airports, seaports; and
(g) Public transport terminals.
The DICT shall be authorized to set standards and qualifications in determining which public 
spaces and government offices shall be included and prioritized for the rollout of the Program.
SECTION 6. Permitting and Certification. -  The DICT shall streamline the process for the 
application, renewal and release of permits and certificates pertinent to the effective 
implementation of this Act.
The DICT shall also standardize and regulate fees for the facilitation of permits, certificates, and 
the rental rates of government-owned or -controlled properties for the construction of 
infrastructure and installation of equipment necessary for the immediate and effective 
implementation of the Program.
The DICT shall conduct the necessary public consultations and consultations with concerned 
National Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), civil society 
organizations and other stakeholder groups in the development of the implementing rules and 
policies regarding the permitting and certification process.
No additional steps, permits, certificates or fees shall be required from any applicant other than 
the requirements stipulated by the DICT.
All issuances necessary to facilitate the implementation of the streamlined process shall be 
released within three (3) months from the promulgation of this Act.
30 
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall be responsible for monitoring
31 
the compliance of concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) with the requirements of the
32 
Program.
SECTION 7. Role o f National Government Agencies and Local Government Units. 
purposes of this Act, the concerned NGAs and LGUs shall:
For the
(a) Coordinate with the DICT and DILG in the streamlining of the application, renewal and 
approval of permits and certificates, and the regulation, standardization, and 
implementation of fees pertinent to the effective implementation of the Program;
(b) Facilitate the access of telecommunication companies in government or government- 
owned or -controlled properties and facilities for the deployment and temporary 
storage of equipment and property needed to construct infrastructure or install 
equipment necessary for the implementation of this Act;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
n
12
13
14
15
16 
17
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
(c) Align or enroll their respective programs providing free access to internet service with 
that provided in this Act;
(d) Ensure the security of installed equipment; and
(e) Assign a designated personnel who can act as site coordinator as needed.
SECTION 8. Exclusivity Arrangements. — The DICT shall proscribe exclusivity arrangements in 
favor of a single telecommunications entity to promote the free and unrestricted access to 
public places, including but not limited to malls, hospitals, parks, churches, arenas, and schools 
by telecommunication companies for the purpose of installation and operation of broadband 
facilities.
SECTION 9. License-Free Use o f Available or Unassigned Spectrum. -  The DICT, in coordination 
with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), shall be allowed the license-free use 
of available and unassigned spectrum for the provision of the free access to internet service, as 
well as for other public service purposes: Provided, That this shall not cause interference to, or 
hinder the development of, the broadcast and other services authorized by the NTC.
The license-free use of available or unassigned spectrum may be granted to other agencies and 
private entities subject to the guidelines issued by the Department and the NTC.
18 
SECTION 10. Data Collection and Monitoring. -  The DICT shall collect data which shall aid in
19 
monitoring and assessing the effective implementation of this Act.
The DICT shall periodically collect, update, and publish information such as but not limited to 
speed and stability of internet service in Program sites, and ensure immediate access to such 
information without need of a request.
SECTION 11. Annual Report. -  The DICT, in coordination with other relevant NGAs and LGUs, 
shall prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the Program, and 
recommend necessary policies for the effective implementation of this Act.
This report shall be submitted to the President of the Philippines and to the Chairpersons of the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the Senate of the Philippines and the Committee on 
Information and Communications Technology of the House of Representatives.
SECTION 12. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary for the immediate and effective 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against any available funds of the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission, 
and concerned Local Government Units and National Government Agencies, including the 
Department of Education in the case of public basic education institutions, and the Department 
of Health in the case of public hospitals and health care centers. Thereafter, such sums as may 
be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be automatically appropriated out of the 
Spectrum User Fees (SUF) collection of the NTC.
Any deficiency in the budgetary requirements for the implementation of this Act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 13. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Information and Communications Technology in 
coordination with relevant agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for 
the effective implementation of this Act.
SECTION 14. Separability Clause. -  Should any provision herein be declared unconstitutional, 
the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.


1
2
3
SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or other 
issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.
4
5
SECTION 16. Effectivity, 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the 
Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
6 
Approved,