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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. g030

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Information dissemination is an essential part of disaster risk reduction and management. The
capacity to disseminate accurate information about an incoming typhoon or a national emergency
allows people to prepare basic necessities and evacuate high-risk areas, effectively reducing their
exposure to hazards. As more and more people rely on their handheld devices for accurate
information regarding natural hazards and other emergencies, it is only apt that the State ensure
that people can easily access all pertinent data concerning a specific disaster.

This measure provides for the creation of an Online Information Center for a specific disaster or
national emergency, in the form of a website with a “.gov.ph” domain, which shall contain all
relevant information concerning a disaster or national emergency. This shall include official
sources of updates, news and information; a directory of government offices and emergency
hotlines; and information on all government assistance programs, subsidies, grants and other
social protection measures available to affected families, among others. Online Information
Centers shall be created by the Philippine Information Agency and may be adopted by local
government units for local disasters, calamities, or emergencies.

On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

ak 1 fda
wy HYRA & TAMBUNTING
(29H District, Paraffaque City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8050

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

‘AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ONLINE INFORMATION CENTERS
DURING NATIONAL CALAMITIES AND OTHER EMERGENCIES, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1, Short Title. — This Act shall be known as "Online Information Center during
Disasters or Emergencies Act."

Section 2. Deciaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of communication and
information in nation-building. In the Bill of Rights, the right of the people to information on
matters of public concern is likewise protected and ensured. The importance of this right to
information is further magnified in times of disasters and other emergencies, given the fact that
the members of the public can be easily led into chaos, panic and unrest by the difficulty of the
attending conditions and circumstances and the unfortunate proliferation of misinformation and
fake news. In response to this, the government shall endeavor to foster transparency and the
effective and widespread dissemination of true and accurate information on matters of public
concern to the people.

Section 3. Defini

n of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as follows:

a. "Disaster" — a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving
widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which
exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
Disasters are often described as a result of the combination of: the exposure to a hazard;
the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to
reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences, Disaster impacts may include
loss of life, injury, disease and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and
social well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of
services, Social and economic disruption and environmental degradation;


b. "Emergency" — unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, demanding
immediate action;

¢. "State of Calamity" — a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to
property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in
the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard,

Section 4. Scope of Application. — This Act shall cover disasters or other kinds of emergencies
which are national in scope, as declared through a State of Calamity or State of National
Emergency by the President of the Philippines. For disasters or emergencies not national in scope,
but affecting two or more provinces or an entire region, this Act may apply at the discretion of
the implementing agency in consideration of the gravity of the prevailing conditions and
circumstances.

Section 5. Creation of Online Information Center during Disasters and Other National
Emergencies Act. - Within seven (7) days from a declaration of a calamity or national
emergency covered by Section 4 of this Act, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall set-up
and made available for public access an Online Information Center for that specific disaster or
national emergency. This Online Information Center shall be in the form of a website with a
“.gov.ph” domain. The contents of the Online Information Center created under this Act shall be
the following:

a. Websites, social media accounts/pages and other online locations of official news and
information sources;

b. Official government directory and emergency hotlines;
c. Official data, statistics and other information on the disaster or emergency;

d. Information and education campaign materials and explainers on the disaster or
emergency concerned;

e. Database of all relevant laws, government issuances and ordinances pertaining to the
disaster or emergency concerned;

f. Information on all government assistance programs, subsidies, grants and other social
protection measures available to affected families;

g. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page;

h. Procedures, hotlines and forms for reporting grievances, complaints, misinformation and
other violations of laws and regulations; and

i, Other content and information that the PIA deems appropriate to include.
Section 6. Adoption by Local Government Units. - For disasters or emergencies which are

only provincial, city or municipal in scope, the local government unit concerned may, at its
discretion, adopt the standards and guidelines set forth under this Act and its implementing rules


and regulations. The PIA shall assist and provide technical expertise, training, personnel and/or
resources to the local government unit concerned.

Section 7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations of the PIA for the year following its enactment
into law and thereafter.

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the PIA, in consultation with the Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other relevant government
agencies, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 9. 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 10. 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 11. 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 circulation.

Approved,