FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENY773 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
! IJ 
JUL 21 
P!\ :35 
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In engaging the tri-media political campaign, many aspiring political candidates 
who are presently holding office in Government have used the resources of their 
respective offices and agencies and may have unlawfully appropriated hundreds of 
millions of pesos in public funds for the purpose. This practice of using public funds for 
this act is unlawful, immoral and unethical. 
Millions of Filipinos are suffering from hunger, unemployment, lack of medical 
care and medication, lack of education and educational facilities, and lack of housing, 
while public funds are being thrown away and wasted for personal use of these aspiring 
candidates. 
The use of public funds to promote one's candidacy and personal political agenda 
is an unlawful appropriation of public funds for a private purpose. It also goes against the 
Constitutional mandate that "public office is a public trust," that public officials are 
"accountable to the people" and that they must "serve them with utmost responsibility, 
integrity," and must "act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives." 
This proposed measure would require every public notice, advertisement, or 
message paid for with public funds to include a statement that indicates that government 
funds were used to pay for the cost of such and the name of the agency or department 
. 
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paying for the same.! 
I This bill was originally filed in the third regular session of the 14th Congress. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
1.773 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
I 
AN ACT 
10 
JUL 21 Pi' :35 
2 
REQUIRING A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT ON THE USE OF GOVERNMENT 
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FUNDS FOR DISSEMINATING PUBLIC INFORMA nON 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Title. - This. Act shall be known as the "Public fnjormation 
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Disclosure Act. ,. 
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SECTION 2. Definition - The terms used in this Act shall have the following 
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meamngs: 
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a) "Agency" - shall mean any authority of the govermnent and includes a 
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department, institution, board, bureau, commission, council, committee of 
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territorial government, branch, autonomous instrumentality or other public 
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entity of the government of the Philippines, whether or not it is within or 
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subject to review by another agency. 
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b) "Public notice", "advertisement" or "message" - shall mean all forms of 
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media which includes but is not limited to print, radio, television or the 
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Internet. 
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SECTION 3. Disclosure of Source of Payment - Any website, public notice, 
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advertisement or message issued or published by an agency, or agencies, and paid for, 
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partially or fully, using government funds, shall include a disclosure statement that the 
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public notice, advertisement or message is paid for by govermnent funds, and the name of 
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the department, agency or agencies paying for the notice. 
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SECTION. 4. Penalties. - Any director, officer or agent of the Government who 
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shaIl authorize, order or perfonn any of the acts or practices constituting in whole or in 
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part a violation of Section 3 of this Act, shall upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not 
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less than Ten thousand pesos (PIO,OOO.OO) but not more than One Hundred Thousand 
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pesos (P 1 00,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than two (2) months but not more than 
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one (1) year, or both upon the discretion of the court. 
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In addition to the penalties provided in the preceding paragraph, the cUlprit shall 
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also suffer the penalty of special temporary disquaIification. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clallse. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
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or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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