SIXTEENTH CONRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PlllLJPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENt9~9 
S.B. __ 
~ 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
Explanatory Note 
,'sl'tli!1 l' 
tr.gfh:r!..lf till? :,~qTd:"lr\l 
'13 
NOV 20 P 4 :07 
RECE1Y 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the right of the people to infonnation on matters of 
public concern.' Moreover, the same provision in the Constitution affords access to official records and to 
documents and paper~ pertaining to official acts, transactio!)s, or decisions, as well as to government 
'research date used as basis' for policy development, subject to such limitations as may be provided by 
law.2 
Republic Act No. 386, otherwise known as the Civil Code of the Philippines, sets the effectivity 
of laws to fifteen days following the completion of their publication in the Official Gazette, unless 
otherwise provided.' With the legal maxim of "Ignorance of the law excuses no one," notice and 
publication oflaws has become necessary., 
However, the people's limited access to, and sometimes knowledge of, the Official Gazette have 
denied the public of their Constitutional right to information, especially of new laws that govern the land. 
Recognizing this limitation and its legal implications, Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the 
Administrative Code of 1987, mandated the publication of laws in at least two newspapers of general 
circulation as an alternative to their publication in the Official Gazette, before the same become effective. 
In this day and age, considering the technologiCal advancements where infonnation technology 
has become an essential part of our daily lives, the internet has become a more efficient medium for 
information dissemination. In order to utilize tbis technological advancement for the benefit of the general 
public and to bring the needed information closer to the people, this bill seeks to mandate the publication 
of laws in the online edition of the Official Gazette as further means of publication over and above 
publication in newspapers of general circulation. 
Hence, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
1 Section 7, Article III, 1987 Philippine Constitution. 
2 Ibid. 
3 Section 2, Civil Code of the Philippines. 
~tL lfl'Z-
• rCEPOE 


..s J? l! ::f f' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
{~!flrr '.d fIb :~I;rd~H'U • 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. 1939 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
, 
AN ACT 
'13 
NOV 20 P tl :07 
PRESCRIBING ELECTRONIC OR ONLINE MODALITIES FOR THE 
PROMULGATION OF LAWS, RESOLUTIONS, RULES AND OTHER ISSUANCES, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 18,24 AND 25 CHAPTER 5, BOOK 1 OF 
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE 
CODE OF 1987 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section L Short Title. -' This Act shall be known as the "Electronic Publication 
Compliance Act of2013." 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to ensure compliance to 
the fundamental rights of the public to information, specifically on matters of public concern. 
The State recognizes the vital role of information and communications technology as an 
alternative to traditional printed or paper editions of newspaper and the Official Gazette in 
bringing to the people important information for proper guidance and appropriate compliance. 
Section 3. Sections 18, 24 and 25, Chapter 5, Book 1 of Executive Order No. 292 are 
hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 18. When Laws Take Effect. +- laws shall take effect after fifteen (15) 
Days following the completion of their publication in the ELECTRONIC OR 
PRINT VERSIONS of the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation, unless it is otherwise provided." 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OFFICES MANDATED TO IMPLEMENT 
THE LAW SHALL PUBLISH AN ELECTRONIC COpy THEREOF IN 
THEIR OFFICIAL WEB PORTAL; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH 
ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION OTHER THAN THAT PUBLISHED IN THE 
ONLINE EDITION OF THE OFFlCIAL GAZETTE SHALL BE FOR 
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION ONLY. 
xxx 
"Section 24. Contents. - There shall be published in the ELECTRONIC AND 
PRINT VERSIONS ofthe Official Gazette all legislative acts and resolutions of 
a public nature; all executive and administrative issuances of general application; 
decisions or abstracts of decisions of the Supreme Court and Court of appeals, or 


other courts of similar rank, as may be deemed by the said courts of sufficient 
importance to be so published; such documents or classes of documents as may 
be required so to be published by law; and such documents or classes of 
documents as the President shall determine from time to have general application 
or which he may authorize to be published. 
"the pUblication of any law, resolution or other official documents in the 
ELECTRONIC AND PRINT VERSIONS of the Official Gazette shall be prima 
facie evidence of its authority. 
"Section 25. Editing and pUblications. - The Official Gazette, BOTH ITS 
ELECTRONIC AND PRINT VERSIONS, shall be edited BY THE 
PRESIDENTIAL 
COMMUNICATIONS 
DEVELOPMENT 
AND 
STRATEGIC PLANNING OFFI.CE of the Office of the President. THE 
. PAPER VERSION OR PRINTED COpy SHALL BE [and] published weekly 
in FILIPINO or in the English language. It shall be sold and distributed by the 
National Printing Office which shall promptly mail copies thereof to subscribers 
free of postage." 
Section 4. Omission of Some Rules. - The publication of laws, rules, regulations and 
other issuances in newspapers as required by law and this Act may be omitted if the publication 
would be unduly cumbersome, expensive or otherwise inexpedient. A bulletin may, however, be 
published containing a notice stating the general subject matter of the omitted law, rule, 
regulation, or issuance can be viewed online or downloaded. 
The publication of the bulletin shall be prima facie evidence of the authority of the law or 
issuance, subject to the requirements mentioned above. 
Every rule establishing an offense or defining an act which, pursuant to law is punishable 
as a crime or subject to a penalty shall in all cases be published in full text. 
Section 5. Implementing Rules and regulations. - The Presidential Communications 
Development and Strategic Planning Office, in coordination with concerned agencies, shall 
, 
formulate the necessary rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from approval of this Act, 
for its effective implementation. 
Section 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid, the other 
provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
Section 7. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, rules or issuances inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
Section 8. Effectivity - shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of its 
-publication in the online or printed edition of the OffiCial gazette, or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,