EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBUC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
, July 29 2020
SENATE
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ONLINE LEGAL KNOWLEDGE 
AND ASSISTANCE SYSTEM THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE NATIONWIDE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
One of the fundamental precepts of our legal system Is "Ignorance of the law 
excuses no one from compliance therewith."1 It is the duty of every Filipino as law- 
abiding citizens to know the laws to which they are subjected to. Concomitant to this 
is the reciprocal duty of the government to publish and disseminate the different laws, 
rules and regulations approved and made effective within the Philippines. Thus, 
publication in the Officiai Gazette or in any other medium as provided by law is a 
prerequisite for the effectivity of laws. A similar publication requirement is also 
imposed in important administrative issuances and local ordinances.
However, dissemination through the printing and publication of laws Is no 
longer' effective in truly Informing the public. Furthermore, a compilation or 
consolidation of the latest updates and amendments to these laws is not available. 
For example, the penalties in terms of value of property and damages and fines 
imposed in the Revised Penal Code (RPC) was updated and amended by Republic Act 
No. 10951 last 2017. However, errors and confusion in citing the correct value or fine, 
more particularly by media outiets or in social media pages, still happen. The same 
applies to recently amended legislation such as the Revised Corporation Code, 
National Internal Revenue Code, Labor Code, among others. And when it comes to
Article 2, Civil Code of the Philippines


legal issues that our citizens usualiy inquire into or are concerned with, such as 
marriage and family relations, inheritance, violence against women and children, land 
titles and property registration, sales, loans and mortgages, etc., there is currently no 
updated, free and reliable website that contains these pieces of information, along 
with helpful definition of terms, translations to Filipino and other local languages and 
simple summaries of legal concepts and Ideas.
In response to this, there is a need for the government to adopt information 
and communications technology (ICO as a nneans to fully Inform the public on the 
contents of our legal system. This bill proposes the establishment of the National Legal 
Knowledge and Assistance System which shall serve as an online repository of the 
different laws, rules and regulations of our country. The System will also contain 
relevant treaties and international conventions wherein the Philippines is a party, 
common legal forms and pleadings, and definition of terms and brief explanation in 
simple English, Filipino and other vernacular languages or dialects of common legal 
concepts, ideas and terminologies. To foster universal access and understandability, 
translations into Filipino and other vernacular languages or dialects will also be made 
available in the system. In the proposed measure, partnerships and agreements with 
government institutions such as the National Library, the Presidential Museum and 
Library, Senate and House of Representatives Library, the Supreme Court Library, 
among others, shall also be institutionalized for purposes of allowing digitalization and 
shared access to books, documents, and resources.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
lANUEL "LITO" M. LAP!
Senator ri


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBUC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Uto" M. Lapid
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ONLINE LEGAL KNOWLEDGE 
AND ASSISTANCE SYSTEM THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE NATIONWIDE
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.-lh\s Act shall be known as" National Legal Knowledge 
and Assistance System Act'.
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — Recognizing the right of the people to 
information on matters of public concern, it is imperative that free and instant access 
to official records, documents, and papers pertaining to laws, rules and regulations 
shali be afforded to every citizen. Towards this end, the use of information and 
communications technology (ICT) shall be embraced as the primary piatform in 
providing reievant legai knowledge and assistance to the peopie.
Section 3. Establishment of the National Legal Knowledge and Assistance 
System. - The Department of Justice (DOJ), in coordination the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology (DICT), shall establish and maintain an 
online National Legal Knowledge and Assistance System (hereinafter, the "System") 
which shall be accessible throughout the country. The contents of this System shall


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be the following:
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a) Updated and searchable copies of the 1987 Constitution, laws, codes,
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rules and regulations of the Republic of the Philippines, its poiitical
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subdivisions and government Instrumentaiities;
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b) Relevant treaties and internationai conventions entered into and binding
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with the Phiiippines;
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c) When practicable and available, translations into Rlipino and other
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vernacular languages or dialects of (a) and (b) above;
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d) Definition of terms and brief explanation In simple English, Filipino and
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other vernacular languages or dialects of common legal concepts, ideas
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and terminologies;
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e) Legal forms and pleadings such as affidavits, complaints, simple
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contracts, etc.;
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f) Contact information or hotlines to the Public Attorney's Office,
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Integrated Bar of the Philippines and other government and private
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Institutions that offer free or pro bono legal aid and assistance; and
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g) Other Information or features that are deemed essential and necessary
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to achieve the purposes of this Act.
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Section 4. Partnership with Other Government Institutions - The DOJ shall
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establish partnerships and agreements with similar government institutions such as
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the National Library, the Presidential Museum and Library, Senate and House of
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Representatives Library, the Supreme Court Library, the Office of the National
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Administrative Register of the UP Law Center, among others, for purposes of allowing
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digitalization and shared access to books, documents, and resources.
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Section 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Justice, Department of Information and
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Communications Technology and other relevant government agencies and
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stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the
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provisions of this Act.


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Section. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations of the year following 
its enactment into law and thereafter.
Section 7. Repealing Clause.—All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, 
the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.
Section 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved/