FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
7 
"i' -4 i' /' 
OF THE PHILPPINES 
) 
i l l  1. 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Because times are difficult, price oftentimes becomes the determining factor when groups 
of people go out and eat in restaurants. Sometimes, however, people get shocked when the time 
comes for them to settle the bill - the price is markedly different from what was advertised 
because of unexpected additional charges. However, as the food has already been eaten and the 
service has already been performed, customers have no option but to pay to save face. 
This bill seeks to protect people from having to pay unexpected prices by requiring 
restaurants to conspicuously post menus including the prices of all food available therein and all 
additional charges of whatever nature the establishment seeks to impose.' 
This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
I 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING RESTAURANTS TO CONSPICUOUSLY POST MENUS 
INCLUDING THE PRICES OF ALL FOOD AVAILABLE THEREIN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Restaurant Menu and Prices 
Posting Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act seeks to protect people from having to pay 
unexpected prices by requiring restaurants to conspicuously post menus including the prices of 
all food available therein. 
SECTION 3. Posting of Menus; Prices. - Any restaurant selling food to the public for 
consumption on the premises, except those exempt pursuant to Section 4 of this Act, shall cause 
a menu including the prices of all food available therein to be conspicuously posted within 
fifteen (15) feet of the main entrance thereto. 
No restaurant shall be required to post a menu more than two pages in length; however, 
if such menu so posted is less than the complete menu, it shall be representative of the food sold 
in such restaurant; Provided, however, that in the case of certain dishes, the prices of which 
fluctuate widely to the restaurant, the restaurant may post a notice to the effect that the price 
will vary according to availability rather than posting the price. 
Any menu posted pursuant to this act shall include entertainment costs, cover charges, 
service charges, minimum permissible expenditures, any other special pricing policies and 
charges and which credit cards or what other forms of payment are acceptable in lieu of cash; 
1 


9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
Provided, however, that no portion of this Section shall in any way limit a restaurant from 
providing its customers with unannounced specials the price of which is disclosed to the 
customer at the time said customer is made aware of the special. 
SECTION 4. Exempt Food Sales; Exempt Establishments. - This act shall not apply to 
food vended by coin operated machines. 
Restaurants which do not supply table service with waiters and/or waitresses who serve 
food to the public or which provide counter service exclusively shall likewise not be subject to 
the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - A violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall be 
punishable by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00). 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereo€, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. 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. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifreen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/rgs 
2