Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 9588

Introduced by HON. MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to institutionalize geo-tagging in all local government units to allow
for more effective policy-making by both the national government and the different local
government units, facility in updating our respective maps, to track the success of
government projects, and to avoid the pernicious problem of poverty which has so far
hampered progress in our country

Since 2006, the Philippines has more or less maintained a poverty incidence at
around 20 percent, with the number fluctuating from highs of 26.6 and going as low as
21.6 as time passed’. Although the trend has shifted downward in 2015, the country still
fails to address the root of poverty while the population continues to rise, with 21.9
million Filipinos still remaining poor. Though the government through its various
agencies and partnering non-governmental organizations has tried its best, it is clear
that a novel approach is needed to identify the cause and strike at the root of the
problem, a solution that allows the government, its citizens, and other stakeholders to
constantly monitor the progress of society in terms of poverty incidence and tangible
results,

Geo-tagging is an efficient way of tracking the existence and progress of
government projects, as it allows government officials and the citizenry alike to check
and follow up projects as they are being carried out in real time. A third-party satellite
will show how far the project is coming along or if such project is already being executed
according to the terms and tenure of the contract. We can now check various areas and
physical aspects of the Philippines and see which areas have long been lingering in
poverty.

Three executive agencies have already begun using geo-tagging technology
alongside their projects, namely the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH), the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Environment and

Philippine Statistics Authority, "Poverty incidence among Filipinos registered at 21.6% in
2015", hitps://psa.gov.ph/poverty-press-releases, Accessed February 27. 2017


Natural Resources (DENR)*. The same technology was used in India, where a handful
of projects’ budgets were found to have been maximized by tracking the progress of
these projects®.

‘As an additional benefit, each local government unit from NCR down to the
smallest barangay will be geo-tagged, providing an updated digital map of these areas.
Said maps will be placed in the hands of the Department of Information and
Communications Technology for easier distribution and access. With easy and visible
access to the progress of our government projects, the government can identify which
areas demand the most attention and resources.

The current administration has put an onus on transparency, starting with the
Executive Order on the Freedom of Information. This

bill will further the imperative to
ensure their tax dollars go to the
of society, because a developing
+

ill is Parnestly sought.

provide our citizenry the transparency they seek a
support of the welfare of Filipinos on the fring
country is only as good as its poorest citizer

In line with this, the passage of t

2 Rappler, “Can geo-tagging help combat coruption?:, http://www rappler.com/move:
phyissues/commuption/49566-geo-taaging-coruption, Accessed February 27, 2017

* The Times of India, “Geo-tagging to help curb corruption in projects”,
http://timesofingia indiatimes.com/city/iaipur/Geo-tagging-to-help-curtb-corrupution-in
projects/articleshow/53202578.cms, Accessed February 27, 2017



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5588

Introduced by Representative MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONWIDE GEO-TAGGING AND POVERTY TRACKING
SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote a
just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the
nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of
life for all. It is also the State's policy to adopt and implement a policy of full public
disclosure, subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, and to recognize the
Vital role of communication and information in nation-building,

SECTION 2. Definitions. — As used in this act, the following terms shall mean:

(a) Geo-tagging — The process of adding geographical identification to various
media in the form of metadata. The captured information are uploaded to a
web-based application which provides the platform to geo-tag. This will allow
the mapping of all the areas in the Philippines and allow the government, the
citizenry, and other stakeholders to check the progress of the project in real
time.

SECTION 3. Nationwide Geo-tagging. - The Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT), with the assistance of the Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Natural Resources and Environment
(DENR), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), shall undertake
the geo-tagging of all areas in the Philippines for efficiency of mapping and tracking the
existence and progress of all infrastructure, conservation, and land titling projects as
well as all projects relating to the patrimony of the Philippines. The DILG shall
coordinate with local government units and pertinent government agencies to ensure
the geo-tagging of all infrastructure, conservation, and land titling projects to show their
progress from start to finish. The implementing agency of the DENR shall be the
National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

SECTION 4. Tagging of Poverty-Stricken Areas. - The DICT, DILG, DPWH
and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall work hand-in-
hand to identify which areas are most stricken by poverty by determining the amount of
physical resources of these areas and their respective basic infrastructure, facilities, and
geography. The DSWD, DPWH, and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)
shall work together to create an exhaustive list of basic parameters to measure the level
of poverty as outlined by the images received through geo-tagging


SECTION 5. Access and Website. - The DICT, in coordination with DENR
through NAMRIA, shall set up an online portal where information pertinent to the
location specified can be accessed. Physical copies of the information and maps of the
entire area shall likewise be made available by the DENR, DICT, and the DILG.

The DENR, DILG, and DSWD shall undertake in training its employees in the municipal
level as to how to access the information as to the project or the area specified. The
DILG shall undertake the distribution of the physical copies of the maps in the respective
local government units.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DICT. in
consultation with the NAPC, the DENR, the DILG, the DSWD, the DPWH, the
Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM), within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, shall
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of the
provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations - The DICT shall, by way of national government
start-up assistance, incorporate in the General Appropriations Act and/or from other
funding sources as the President of the Philippines shall authorize the amount of TWO
HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION PESOS (P250,000,000) which shall be earmarked and
disbursed to the DICT for the nationwide geo-tagging system.

The fund may be augmented by grants, donations, and endowment from various
sources, domestic or foreign, for purposes related to their functions, subject to the
existing guidelines set by the government.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the
other provisions not affected thereby.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, parts of laws, decrees, presidential
issuances, proclamations, orders, ordinances, and administrative regulations in conflict
with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation

Approved,