NINETEENTH CONGRESS   
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session  
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Internet access has become more and more important in our lives today. Almost 
everyone needs internet access for work, for school, and for access to vital information. Many 
other countries have passed legislation to promote internet access.   
The Philippines has Republic Act No. 10929 otherwise known as "Free Internet Access 
in Public Places Act" which declares that the “State hereby recognizes the vital role of 
information and communications technology in nation-building, and declares its policy to 
promote an environment for the development of structures that would ensure the availability 
and accessibility to reliable and secure internet access suitable to the needs and aspirations 
of the nation”. 
However, internet access in the Philippines remains limited. According to a 
survey of Pew Research Center released last April 2020, the Philippines ranked 29th 
out of 34 countries surveyed in terms of access to the internet. In the Digital Quality 
of Life Index 2020, the Philippines lands at the 82nd place, out of 85 spots, in terms 
of internet affordability. 
Internet charges still remain quite high and many Filipinos rely on mobile data which 
unfortunately is also not that affordable. As such, there is a need to provide not just cheap 
access to Internet, but meaningful access as well.  
This bill aims to establish a lifeline rate for Internet access, similar to the lifeline 
rate implemented in other utilities such as electricity and potable water. Such rate 
recognizes Internet access as a primary right and provides a much-needed assistance 
to low-income and connectivity-dependent Internet consumers. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
November 24, 2022
6:08 pm
6388


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
IMPLEMENTING A LIFELINE RATE FOR INTERNET SERVICES, AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE SECTION 17 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7925, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Extension of Lifeline Rate. - Section 17 of Republic Act No. 7925, otherwise 
known as the "Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines", is hereby amended 
to read as follows: 
"SEC. 17. Rates and Tariffs, - The Commission shall establish rates and 
tariffs which are fair and reasonable and which provide for the economic 
viability of telecommunications entities and a fair return on their 
investments considering the prevailing cost of capital in the domestic and 
international markets. 
The Commission shall exempt any specific telecommunications service 
from its rate or tariff regulations if the service has sufficient competition to 
ensure fair and reasonable rates or tariffs. The Commission shall, however, 
retain its residual powers to regulate rates or tariffs when ruinous 
competition results or when a monopoly or a cartel or combination in 
restraint of free competition exists and the rates or tariffs are distorted or 
unable to function freely and the public is adversely affected. In such cases, 
the Commission shall either establish a floor or ceiling on the rates or tariffs. 
A BROADBAND AND DATA LIFELINE RATE FOR QUALIFIED 
MARGINALIZED INTERNET END-USERS SHALL BE SET BY THE 
COMMISSION. "LIFELINE RATE" REFERS TO A SOCIALIZED 
PRICING MECHANISM IN THE FORM OF APPLICABLE DISCOUNTS 
BASED ON CONSUMPTION THRESHOLDS. THE LEVEL OF 
CONSUMPTION AND CORRESPONDING DISCOUNT RATES SHALL 
BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION AFTER DUE NOTICE AND 
HEARING: PROVIDED, THAT THE COMMISSION CANNOT SET A 
BASE LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION LESS THAN ONE (1) GIGABYTE 
PER MONTH OR A BASE DISCOUNT LOWER THAN TWENTY 
PERCENT (20%). 
QUALIFIED MARGINALIZED INTERNET END-USERS SHALL REFER 
TO THE FOLLOWING: 
(A) QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLD-BENEFICIARIES UNDER REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 11310, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PANTAWID
PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM, AS REGULARLY SUBMITTED BY
6388


THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT 
(DSWD) 
TO 
THE 
COMMISSION, 
AND 
THE 
PUBLIC 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITY; OR  
 
(B) MARGINALIZED END-USERS AS CERTIFIED BY THE PUBLIC 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
ENTITY 
BASED 
ON 
A 
CRITERIA 
DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION: PROVIDED, THAT THE 
CRITERIA SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POVERTY THRESHOLD 
SET BY THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, AND PRIORITIZE 
MEMBERS OF INTERNET AND/OR CONNECTIVITY-DEPENDENT 
SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY SUCH AS STUDENTS, SENIOR CITIZENS, 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THE ELDERLY AND THE LIKE, AND 
SHALL CONTAIN AN EXCLUSIVE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS TO BE 
SUBMITTED TO THE PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITY: 
PROVIDED 
FURTHER, 
THAT 
THE 
EXCLUSIVE 
LIST 
OF 
REQUIREMENTS AND THE PROCEDURE FOR THEIR SUBMISSION, 
WHICH SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE REVIEW AND SUPERVISION OF 
THE COMMISSION, SHALL NOT BE BURDENSOME FOR THE 
APPLICANT: 
PROVIDED 
FINALLY, 
THAT 
THE 
PUBLIC 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITY SHALL ACT ON THE APPLICATION 
FOR CERTIFICATION AS QUALIFIED MARGINALIZED END-USER 
WITHIN TWO (2) WORKING DAYS FROM SUBMISSION OF COMPLETE 
DOCUMENTARY 
REQUIREMENTS, 
AND 
SHALL 
NOT 
UNREASONABLY WITHHOLD OR DELAY THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH 
CERTIFICATION. THE COMMISSION SHALL PROMULGATE RULES 
AND GUIDELINES FOR QUALIFIED MARGINALIZED END-USERS 
WHOSE ACCOUNTS ARE NOT REGISTERED IN THEIR NAME. THE 
COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE JOINT CONGRESSIONAL 
ENERGY 
COMMISSION 
AN 
ANNUAL 
REPORT 
ON 
THE 
IMPLEMENTATION 
OF 
THE 
LIFELINE 
RATE, 
AND 
A 
COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION EVERY 
TWO (2) YEARS TO INCLUDE A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS AS WELL 
AS MODES OF VALIDATION AND PREVENTION OF LEAKAGES AND 
ABUSE." 
 
SEC 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The National Telecommunications 
Commission, in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications 
Technology, and in consultation with other stakeholders from the public and private sectors 
shall, within sixty (60) days from the date of effectivity of this Act, promulgate and publish the 
rules and regulations for the effective and faithful implementation of this Act: Provided, That 
the failure of the promulgation of the said rules and regulations shall not prevent the 
implementation of this Act upon its effectivity. 
 
SEC 3. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Act 
shall be declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are 
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SEC 4. Repealing Clause. – All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC 5. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
 
 
Approved,