Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Paolo Henry M. Marcoleta 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In this digital age, access to the internet is no longer a luxury – it is a 
necessity. The United Nations, particularly in the 2016 Human Rights Council 
resolution1, has emphasized the indispensable role of “internet access in 
exercising freedom of expression, facilitating access to information and 
protecting other fundamental rights.” In today’s complex era where information 
technology plays a central role in society, the internet is a platform for culture, 
education, and economy. It is a vital tool for learning, working, doing business, 
and staying connected.  
In 2021, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies has reported 
that “despite the widespread cellular phone signal coverage and mobile device 
ownership, internet usage in the country remains low owing to poor and 
expensive internet connectivity and inadequate digital infrastructure, especially 
outside the National Capital Region.” 
The Department of Information and Communications Technology is 
working to address this gap by establishing their target to increase the number 
of households with internet access nationwide from the current 44% in 2024 to 
60% by 2028. Relatedly, their free public Wi-Fi program is “seen to benefit 9.8 
million users across 1,401 cities and municipalities, including 3,040 
geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.” This issue of access must also 
simultaneously address affordability.  
Internet connectivity is a revolutionary tool that defines income, dignity 
and access for every citizen. Moreover, the occurrence of natural disasters and 
1 United Nations Human Rights Council. The Promotion, Protection and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the 
Internet. A/HRC/RES/32/13, 1 July 2016, available at 
www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/32session/A.HRC.32.L.20.pdf. (last accessed on July 07, 2025). 
August 5, 2025
11:54 am
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pandemics in the past accelerated the need for internet access in expanding 
employment with work-from-home options, ensuring learning continuity in shift 
learning modalities, and assessing up-to-date information for informed decision-
making.  
This measure aims to establish a lifeline rate for internet access, similar 
to electricity, in order to ensure assistance to low-income and connectivity-
dependent households. It seeks to compliment, support, and build on the goals 
of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act so as to 
leave no Filipino behind in the digital age.  
In recognition of the right to internet access, the immediate approval of 
this bill is most earnestly sought. 
PAOLO HENRY M. MARCOLETA 
Representative, SAGIP Party-List


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Paolo Henry M. Marcoleta 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 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 
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 “Lifeline Rate for 
1 
Internet Services Act”. 
2 
3 
Sec. 2. Establishment of Lifeline Rate. –  Section 17 of Republic Act No. 
4 
7925, otherwise known as the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the 
5 
Philippines, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
6 
7 
 
“Sec. 17. Rates and Tariffs. - The Commission shall establish rates 
8 
and tariffs which are fair and reasonable and which provide for the 
9 
economic viability of telecommunications entities and a fair return on 
10 
their investments considering the prevailing cost of capital in the 
11 
domestic and international markets. 
12 
13 
 
The Commission shall exempt any specific telecommunications 
14 
service from its rate or tariff regulations if the service has sufficient 
15 
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competition to ensure fair and reasonable rates or tariffs. The 
1 
Commission shall, however, retain its residual powers to regulate rates 
2 
or tariffs when ruinous competition results or when a monopoly or a 
3 
cartel or combination in restraint of free competition exists and the 
4 
rates or tariffs are distorted or unable to function freely and the public 
5 
is adversely affected. In such cases, the Commission shall either 
6 
establish a floor or ceiling on the rates or tariffs. 
7 
 
8 
 
A BROADBAND AND DATA LIFELINE RATE FOR 
9 
QUALIFIED 
MARGINALIZED 
INTERNET 
END-USERS 
10 
SHALL BE SET BY THE COMMISSION. 
11 
 
12 
 
LIFELINE RATE REFERS TO A SOCIALIZED PRICING 
13 
MECHANISM IN THE FORM OF APPLICABLE DISCOUNTS 
14 
BASED ON CONSUMPTION THRESHOLDS. THE LEVEL OF 
15 
CONSUMPTION 
AND 
CORRESPONDING 
DISCOUNT 
16 
RATES SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION 
17 
AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING:  PROVIDED, 
THAT 
18 
THE COMMISSION CANNOT SET A BASE LEVEL OF 
19 
CONSUMPTION LESS THAN ONE (1) GIGABYTE PER 
20 
MONTH OR A BASE DISCOUNT LOWER THAN THIRTY 
21 
PERCENT (30%). 
22 
 
23 
 
QUALIFIED MARGINALIZED INTERNET END-USERS 
24 
SHALL REFER TO THE FOLLOWING: 
25 
 
26 
(A) QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLD-BENEFICIARIES UNDER 
27 
REPUBLIC ACT 17  11310, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
28 
THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM 
29 
(4PS) ACT, AS REGULARLY SUBMITTED BY THE 
30 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
SOCIAL 
WELFARE 
AND 
31 
DEVELOPMENT TO THE COMMISSION, AND THE 
32 
PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITY; OR  
33 
 
34 
(B) MARGINALIZED END-USERS AS CERTIFIED BY 
35 
THE PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITY 
36 
BASED ON A CRITERIA DETERMINED BY THE 
37 


 
COMMISSION: PROVIDED, THAT THE CRITERIA 
1 
SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POVERTY 
2 
THRESHOLD SET BY THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS 
3 
AUTHORITY, AND PRIORITIZE MEMBERS OF 
4 
INTERNET AND/OR CONNECTIVITY-DEPENDENT 
5 
SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY SUCH AS STUDENTS, 
6 
SENIOR CITIZENS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, 
7 
AMONG OTHERS AND SHALL CONTAIN AN 
8 
EXCLUSIVE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS TO BE 
9 
SUBMITTED 
TO 
THE 
PUBLIC 
10 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
ENTITY: 
PROVIDED, 
11 
FURTHER, THAT THE EXCLUSIVE LIST OF 
12 
REQUIREMENTS AND THE PROCEDURE FOR 
13 
THEIR SUBMISSION, WHICH SHALL BE SUBJECT 
14 
TO THE REVIEW AND SUPERVISION OF THE 
15 
COMMISSION, SHALL NOT BE BURDENSOME FOR 
16 
THE APPLICANT: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT THE 
17 
PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITY SHALL 
18 
ACT ON THE APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION 
19 
AS 
QUALIFIED 
MARGINALIZED 
END-USER 
20 
WITHIN 
TWO 
(2) 
WORKING 
DAYS 
FROM 
21 
SUBMISSION 
OF 
COMPLETE 
DOCUMENTARY 
22 
REQUIREMENTS, 
AND 
SHALL 
NOT 
23 
UNREASONABLY WITHHOLD OR DELAY THE 
24 
ISSUANCE OF SUCH CERTIFICATION.  
25 
 
26 
 
THE 
COMMISSION 
SHALL 
PROMULGATE 
27 
GUIDELINES FOR QUALIFIED MARGINALIZED END-
28 
USERS WHOSE ACCOUNTS ARE NOT REGISTERED IN 
29 
THEIR NAME.” 
30 
 
31 
 
Sec. 3. Harmonization with the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act. 
32 
– The implementation of this Act shall be harmonized with the implementation 
33 
of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act. 
34 
 
35 
 
Sec. 4. Mandatory Submission of Report to Congress. –  The Department 
36 
of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall submit to the 
37 


 
Congress of the Philippines, through the respective Chairpersons of the Senate 
1 
Committee on Public Services and House Committee on Information and 
2 
Communication Technology, a program report detailing the implementation 
3 
every fiscal year. The program should include but not limited to: 
4 
 
5 
a. total number of household beneficiaries including relevant information, 
6 
such as but not limited to, number of household members (including 
7 
their age, sex), and location; and 
8 
 
9 
b. assessment of the impact of the program to the National Broadband 
10 
Plan. 
11 
 
12 
 
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from 
13 
the effectivity of this Act, the DICT shall, in coordination with the National 
14 
Telecommunications Commission and the Department of Social Welfare and 
15 
Development, and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, promulgate the 
16 
rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act: 
17 
Provided, That the failure of the promulgation of the IRR shall not prevent the 
18 
implementation of this Act upon its effectivity. 
19 
 
20 
 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the 
21 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the DICT budget in the annual 
22 
General Appropriations Act. 
23 
 
24 
 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
25 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall 
26 
remain in full force and effect. 
27 
 
28 
 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
29 
orders, letters of instructions, proclamations or administrative regulations that are 
30 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
31 
modified accordingly 
32 
 
33 
 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
34 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
35 
 
36 
 
Approved,  
37