EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
%^yOV’xt 'j( (j)p ^e’.r"‘tav)>
S. No.
20
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Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapu^*1’
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AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ONLINE INFORMATION 
CENTERS DURING NATIONAL CALAMITIES AND OTHER EMERGENCIES, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 7, Article III (Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Constitution 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."
This right to information is all the more made significant and crucial in times 
when the country faces disruptions to the social fabric, such as during national 
calamities or emergencies. Access of the public to true and accurate information is 
essential in preventing disorder, chaos and confusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has 
provided us practical lessons and insights on the vital role of information in 
managing disaster or emergency. The lockdown has become fertile ground for 
individuals and groups with ulterior or sinister motives to victimize the public to all 
sorts of scams and fraudulent activities like online scams, malware/ransomware


attacks and fake emails requesting personal information1, purveyors of fake news2, 
predatory get-rich-quick schemes3 and even scams in the distribution of government 
aid4 and bogus claims on COVID-19 drugs or vaccines5.
As the saying goes, sunlight is the best disinfectant. To combat the chaos and 
confusion borne by the circumstances and the wildfire-like spread of misinformation, 
the government must endeavor to disseminate true and accurate information on 
matters of public concern to the widest possible reach. As a response specifically to 
the COVID-19 situation, it is a laudable effort on the part of the government through 
the Presidential Communications Operations Office that a "Laging Handa" COVID-19 
website was set-up (http://www.covidl9.gov.ph/). This best practice must now be 
institutionalized and replicated to other kinds of calamities and emergencies that 
may plague the country in the future (typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, 
etc.)
This bill proposes the institutionalization of the establishment of an Online 
Information Center during national disasters or calamities. This Online Information 
Center will be in the form of a publicly-accessible website created and managed by 
the implementing agency, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). It shall contain 
relevant content and information in connection with the disaster or emergency such 
as the websites, social media accounts/pages and other online locations of official 
news and information sources; official data, statistics and other information on the 
disaster or emergency; information on all government assistance programs, 
subsidies, grants and other social protection measures available to affected families; 
among others. This shall apply to 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 may
'https ://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1256762/nbi-to-public-beware-of-online-scams-using-covid- 
19-crisis
2https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/6/arrests-over-coronavirus-fake-news.html
3https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/04/27/2009968/sec-get-rich-quick-schemes-rise-
amid-covid-19
4https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/04/26/2009889/dswd-urges-public-report-scams-
aid-distribution
5https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1260989/no-cure-for-covid-19-yet-fda-stresses


apply at the discretion of the implementing agency in consideration of the gravity of 
the prevailing conditions and circumstances. For localized disasters or emergencies, 
provincial, city or municipal governments may also adopt the standards and 
guidelines set forth under the proposed measure and its implementing rules and 
regulations.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
EL "LITO" M.
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
of tl)c i&rtrrtBrj*
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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 the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Online Information 
Center during Disasters or Emergencies Act."
Section 2. Declaration 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.


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Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are 
defined as foliows:
a. "Disaster" - a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a 
society invoiving widespread human, materiai, 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;
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"State of Caiamity" - 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 Appiication. - This Actshall 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 Oniine Information Center during Disasters and Other 
Nationai 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


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Agency (PIA) shall set-up and made available for public access an Online
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Information Center for that specific disaster or national emergency. This Online
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Information Center shall be in the form of a website with a ".gov.ph" domain. The
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contents of the Online Information Center created under this Act shall be the
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following:
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a. Websites, social media accounts/pages and other online locations of
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official news and information sources;
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b. Official government directory and emergency hotlines;
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c. Official data, statistics and other information on the disaster or
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emergency;
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d. Information and education campaign materials and explainers on the
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disaster or emergency concerned;
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e. Database of all relevant laws, government issuances and ordinances
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pertaining to the disaster or emergency concerned;
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f. Information on all government assistance programs, subsidies, grants
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and other social protection measures available to affected families;
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g. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page;
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h. Procedures, hotlines and forms for reporting grievances, complaints,
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misinformation and other violations of laws and regulations; and
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i. Other content and information that the PIA deems appropriate to
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include.
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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


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year following its enactment into iaw and thereafter.
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Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the PIA, in consuitation with the Department of 
Information and Communications Technoiogy (DICT), Nationai Disaster Risk 
Reduction and Management Councii (NDRRMC), Department of Interior and Local 
Government (DILG) andother 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 repeaied 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 ieast two (2) newspapers of 
generai circuiation.
Approved,