Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES TO PROVIDE 
ITS SUBSCRIBERS WITH FREE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution1 provides that: 
The right of the people to information on matters of public 
concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to 
documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, 
or decisions, as well as to government research data used as 
basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, 
subject to such limitations as may be provided by law. 
One of the guaranteed rights provided for by the Bill of Rights, is that the people have 
the right to be informed on matters of public concerns.  
In current times, technology is rampantly changing and developing. This bill 
seeks to require public telecommunications entities to provide its subscribers with free 
access to government websites. Through the enactment of this bill, every Filipino 
people would have a better access to governmental information, specifically to 
government websites. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is necessary. 
1 Section 7, Article III, 1987 Constitution. 
October 7, 2022
9:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES TO PROVIDE 
ITS SUBSCRIBERS WITH FREE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES 
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 the "Free Access to 
Government Websites Act.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State hereby recognizes the vital role 
of information and communications technology in nation-building and declares its 
policy to promote an environment that would ensure the availability and accessibility 
of official government information in the internet. Towards this end, the State shall 
mandate that public telecommunication entities granted a Congressional privilege to 
operate as such to contribute in the promotion of availability and efficiency of access 
to government and lessen the digital divide. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. – 
(a) Government website - a website recognized by the Department of
Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and is maintained for
the National Government, with the main purpose of communicating and
providing information, departmental issuances, mandates and other vital
information for the operation of the government and the general public;
(b) Free access - shall mean the provision of full and uninhibited access to
government websites by telecommunications entities without charging their
subscribers any fee or service cost;
(c) Public telecommunications entity any person, firm, partnership or
corporation, whether government or private, that is engaged in the provision
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of telecommunications services to the public for compensation and 
conferred with a legislative franchise to operate; 
 
(d) Subscriber - any person who uses, enjoys and pays for the services of public 
telecommunications entities; 
 
(e) Telecommunications any process which enables a telecommunications 
entity to relay and receive voice, data, electronic messages, written or 
printed matter, fixed or moving pictures, words, music or visible or audible 
signals or any control signals of any design and for any purpose by wire, 
radio or other electromagnetic, spectral, optical or technological means. 
 
Section 4. Free Access to Government Websites. – All public 
telecommunications entities are required to provide free access to all government 
websites. To ease the burden of public telecommunication entities in the enforcement 
of this Act, the DICT is mandated to assist government agencies in ensuring that their 
respective websites can be accessed with minimal data requirements. 
 
Section 5. Penalties. – Any public telecommunications entity who is found to 
have violated the provisions of this Act shall be punished with a fine of not less than 
One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more than Ten million pesos 
(P10,000,000.00) and/or a suspension or revocation of its legislative franchise and 
other permits and licenses by the National Telecommunications Commission. 
 
Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DICT, as the lead 
implementing agency that will oversee the effective and efficient implementation of this 
Act, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within one hundred twenty 
(120) days from the effectivity of this Act. 
 
Section 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations, 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
amended accordingly. 
 
Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, 
other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain and continue to be 
in full force and effect. 
 
Section 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
Approved,