TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
Jviiiv of.
SENATE
roc
S. No.
25 JUL 14 All :53
RECEIVcL £
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SUSTAINABLE AND LOW-IMPACT LOADING 
STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENT WEBSITES AND ONLINE SERVICES, 
PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL 
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The transition to digital governance has reshaped how the Philippine government 
delivers services. From tax filing and licensing to social services and education, 
government websites serve as essential public gateways. Yet as our reliance on digital 
infrastructure grows, so too does its environmental footprint. Every page visit, file 
download, and database query consumes electricity—on both server and user sides—and 
these small transactions, when scaled to millions of visits daily, contribute significantly to 
national energy demand and carbon emissions.
To illustrate, current estimates show that the average government website in the 
Philippines likely receives around 122,000 visits per month, based on half the average 
monthly traffic to U.S. federal websites. With approximately 2,100 government entities 
nationwide—including national agencies, GOCCs, LGUs, and SUCs—this translates to an 
estimated 3.07 billion page views annually. Based on international studies, an unoptimized 
web page emits around 2.0 or more grams of CO2 per visit, while an optimized, energy- 
efficient page emits only 0.3 to 0.5 grams.1 Taking a conservative average savings of 1.5 
grams per page view, the potential annual carbon reduction if all government websites
1 Gerry McGovern, "Reducing Carbon Emissions On The Web," Smashing Magazine, September 16, 
2021. Available at; https://www.smashingmagazine.eom/2021/09/reducing-carbon-emissions-on- 
web (accessed July 8, 2025).


adopted green practices would amount to approximately 4.6 million kilograms (or 4,600 
metric tons) of CO 2.
In energy terms, this equates to about 6.58 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) saved 
annually, assuming 1.43 kWh is required to produce 1 kg of CO2. At the current average 
electricity cost of PIO per kWh, this results in an estimated P65.8 million in annual energy 
savings across the public sector.
These savings accrue not only at the server level but also on the user side, as 
faster, mobile-optimized websites use less data, place less load on devices, and enhance 
performance. For many Filipinos who are data-reliant or live in areas with slow or 
intermittent internet signals, lightweight websites can dramatically improve access, 
usability, and reliability. In this way, green website standards promote not just 
sustainability, but also digital equity and inclusion in public service delivery.
The proposed Smart, Low-Carbon and Lean Websites Act, also known as the Green 
Government Websites Act, aims to institutionalize environmentally responsible practices 
in the design, hosting, and maintenance of all government websites. The bill mandates:
1. the use of energy-efficient coding and lightweight web structures,
2. the preference for hosting providers powered by renewable energy,
3. the optimization of databases to reduce server energy loads,
4. the conduct of annual digital carbon audits, and
5. the publication of "digital footprint disclosures" on every government 
homepage.
It also tasks the Department of Information and Communications Technology 
(DICT) with issuing green website design guidelines, training web administrators across 
agencies, and maintaining a registry of certified green websites. These interventions are 
not just environmental; they also lead to improved performance, reduced bounce rates, 
lower ICT maintenance costs, and more efficient data operations.
This measure aligns with our obligations under the Energy Efficiency and 
Conservation Act (RA 11285) and the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729). It also 
supports our pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
1. Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure),
2. Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and
3. Goal 13 (Climate Action).


Globally, several countries are taking steps toward sustainable digital practices, 
particularly in reducing the environmental impact of websites and online services. 
Germany, through its government-backed Blue Angel ecolabel, has begun certifying 
environmentally friendly software and IT services, laying the groundwork for broader 
digital sustainability standards. Sweden and Denmark have likewise integrated digital 
sustainability into their national strategies, with government support for energy-efficient 
data centers and green ICT procurement, though no country has yet adopted a national 
standard specifically for green government websites.
The Green Web Foundation, an international non-profit, maintains a global 
directory of hosting providers powered by renewable energy and offers tools like the 
Green Web Ched^ and COZ.js^ to measure website-related emissions—supporting the 
broader vision of a fossil-free internet by 2030.
Meanwhile, major tech companies have made ambitious climate pledges: Google 
aims for net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain by 2030, focusing on 
24/7 carbon-free energy in its data centers. Meta (Facebook) reports net-zero operations 
since 2020 and targets full value-chain net-zero by 2030. Shopify established a 
Sustainability Fund in 2019, leading in voluntary carbon removal purchases and clean 
digital operations. These efforts signal an emerging global movement to green the digital 
space—one in which governments, too, must take part.
The Philippines must not fall behind in this transition. More importantly, the 
government must lead by example. If the State expects businesses and citizens to practice 
environmental responsibility, it must first green its own digital infrastructure.
The greening of government websites is a low-cost, high-impact, and future-facing 
reform. It is a low-hanging fruit that immediately saves energy, reduces public sector 
emissions, improves citizen experience, and strengthens our position as a climate leader 
in Southeast Asia. We owe it to the public—and to future generations—to make our digital 
government not just smart and efficient, but also sustainable.
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is sought.
LOREN LEGARDA
2 Source: https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/green-web-check/
3 Source: https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/co2-js/


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
526
0( tiii-
25 JUL 14 AH 53
RECEIVED SY
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SUSTAINABLE AND LOW-IMPACT LOADING 
STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENT WEBSITES AND ONLINE SERVICES, 
PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL 
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Smart, Low-Carbon 
and Lean Websites Act (Green Government Websites Act)".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote 
sustainable and environmentally responsible digital transformation in government by 
adopting standards that reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of 
official websites, portals, and online systems. Recognizing that digital infrastructure 
consumes electricity and contributes to climate change, the State shall lead by 
example in optimizing government websites for energy efficiency, fast performance, 
and reduced emissions, while also improving the delivery of public services online.
Sec. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all national government agencies 
(NGAs), government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities 
and colleges (SUCs), local government units (LGUs), constitutional offices, and 
independent bodies that maintain official websites, portals, or online service platforms.
Sec. 4. Green Website Standards. - All covered government entities shall 
design, operate, and maintain their websites and digital platforms in accordance with 
sustainable design and infrastructure principles. At a minimum, these shall include:


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a) Optimized coding and design using lightweight, mobile-first structures,
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compressed images, and minimal plug-ins to ensure fast loading and
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reduced data transfer;
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b) Sustainable hosting with preference for data centers powered by
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renewable energy or certified as carbon-neutral;
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c) Efficient database management including data deduplication, indexing,
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and clean data structuring to reduce server energy load;
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d) Low-energy user interaction by avoiding auto-play features,
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unnecessary animations, or elements that increase 
device CPU usage;
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and
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e) Accessibility and interoperability in accordance with web accessibility
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standards to ensure universal 
use, 
especially in low-bandwidth
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environments.
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Sec. 5. Digital Carbon Audits and Public Disclosure. - All covered entities shall:
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a) Conduct an annual digital carbon audit of their websites and online
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services using tools or methodologies to be prescribed in the
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Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR);
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b) Submit such audits to the Department of Information and
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Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of
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Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); and
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c) Publish on the homepage a "digital footprint disclosure" that shows key
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metrics on page load efficiency and estimated energy consumption per
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user visit.
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Sec. 6. Institutional Support and Capacity Building. - The DICT, in coordination
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with the DENR, Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Science and
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Technology (DOST), shall:
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a) Develop and disseminate Green Website Design Guidelines and sample
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code or templates;
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b) Provide training and technical assistance to ICT officers, content
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managers, and developers of covered entities; and
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c) Establish and maintain a Registry of Certified Green Government
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Websites, to be updated annually and published online.


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Sec. 7. Performance Benchmarks and Incentives. - The IRR shall define tiered
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performance benchmarks (e.g., page weight, load time, energy per visit) for green
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websites. Agencies meeting or exceeding benchmarks may:
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a) Qualify for performance-based digital innovation grants or sustainability-
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linked funding; and
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b) Receive recognition or certification through national environmental
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awards or ICT excellence programs.
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Sec. 8. Integration with Energy and Climate Data. - All data and reports
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generated under this Act shall form part of national indicators on energy efficiency
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and climate mitigation, in alignment with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act
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(RA 11285) and the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729).
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Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the DICT, in consultation with DENR, DOE, and DOST, shall
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promulgate the IRR to carry out the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall remain
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in full force and effect.
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Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive and administrative orders,
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presidential decrees, rules and regulations, and parts thereof inconsistent with this
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Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,