SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT -3 P5:z7 
SENATE 
S.No. 1791 
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R_ECI<t \' H) '''0 . 
Iiltroduced 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 (0 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 (he 
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.' 
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I)III'MIRIAMD ~SORS ~ 
• This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
\~ff';f !.'If u!t~ ~;"rrbf~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT -3 [>5:27 
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SENAUl 
S. No. 
1. '791 
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Restaurant Menu and Prices 
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Posting Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
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welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act seeks to protect people from having to pay. 
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unexpected prices by requiring restaurants to conspicuously post menus including the prices of 
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all food available therein. 
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SECTION 3. Posting of Menus; Prices. - Any restaurant selling food to the public for 
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consumption on the premises, except those exempt pursuant to Section 4 of this Act, shall cause 
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a menu including the prices of all food available therein to be conspicuously posted within 
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fifteen (15) feet ofthe main entrance thereto. 
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No restaurant shall be required to post a menu more than two pages in length; however, if 
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such menu so posted is less than the complete menu, it shall be representative of the food sold in 
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such restaurant; Provided, however, that in the case of certain dishes, the prices of which 
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fluctuate widely in the restaurant, the restaurant may post a notice to the effect that the price will 
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vary according to availability rather than posting the price. 
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Any menu posted pursuant to this Act shall include entertainment costs, cover charges, 
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service charges, minimum permissible expenditures, any other special pricing policies and 
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charges and which credit cards or what other forms of payment are acceptable in lieu of cash; 
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Provided, however, that no portion of this Section shall in any way limit a restaurant from 
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providing its customers with unannOlJllced specials the price of which is disclosed to the 
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customer at the time said customer is made aware of the special. 
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SECTION 4. Exempt Food Sales; Exempt Establishments. - This Act shall not apply to 
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food vended by coin-operated machines. 
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Restaurants which do not supply table service with waiters and/or waitresses who serve 
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food to the public or which provide counter service exclusively shall likewise not be subject to 
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the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Penalties. - A violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall be 
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punishable by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00) for each violation. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or pill"! thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its -
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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