NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATJ
S.B. No. locb
72 SEP 19 P 3 *34
Rl'CEiV::*
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution affirms that ntiie State values the 
dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights." In 2016, 
the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on the promotion, 
protection, and enjoyment of human rights on the internet, based on the realization 
that the internet has become an indispensable means in the exercise of well-established 
rights such as the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, 
and education.
In recognition of the importance of exercising human rights on the internet, 
other jurisdictions have passed legislation to promote internet access. In 2000, Estonia 
declared internet access as a fundamental human right, arguing that it is essential for 
living in the 21st century. In 2010, Finland became the first nation to make reasonably 
priced broadband connection a legal right for all its citizens through a "universalservice 
obligation." Spain followed suit with similar legislation in 2011. The Philippines enacted 
R.A. No. 10929 otherwise known as the "Free Internet in Public Places Act', which 
declares that it is a state 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. In the 2021 Digital 
Quality of Life Index, the Philippines landed at the 48th place out of 85 countries ranked 
globally in terms of overall digital quality of life. It ranked 12th out of 32 countries in 
Asia. It ranked particularly dismally in terms of internet affordability (72nd), electronic 
government (67th), and electronic infrastructure (63rd).


The quality of internet access available to Filipinos is also an issue. Given the 
access and pricing issues associated with broadband Internet in the Philippines, most 
of the internet use in the Philippines is mobile. As of February 2022, there are 79.66 
million internet users in the Philippines and 72.7% internet user penetration rate 
according to Statista.com with median download speed of 18.79 megabits per second 
(Mbps) for mobile internet and 49.10 Mbps for fixed broadband according to Ookla 
Speedtest.
Many users are constrained to depend on mobile promotions like Free Facebook 
and platform-based access, which restrict the type of content available through a 
" walledgarderT system. 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, which allows them to 
realize their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, 
information, and education.
For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
R. MARCOS


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S.B. No.
SENATE
1326
of tl)c£ !• •'i-nry
'22 SEP 19 P3 34
RI-CEIVlD bv
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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"
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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


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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 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


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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 (NTC), in coordination with the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology (DICT), 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.


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SEC. 5. 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 in the
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Philippines.
Approved,