SJXTEENTHCONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL -4 All :16 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "SONNY" F. Trillanes IV 
E:xpianatory Note 
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is a vital tool in the development of an 
electronic society. Being connected digitally provides us with easy access and fast links, thus, 
making the use of ICT highly essential to our economic growth, educational advancement, 
awareness enhancement, market facilitation, and public participation. 
This bill proposes the creation of eighty one (81) nodes nationwide situated in areas that are 
development corridors in order to pump prime economic activities and promote development in 
other growth areas of the province. It hopes to minimize the so-called digital divide as well as 
speed up the setting up of a wireless communications infrastructure. 
With ICT Hubs, provinces will be able to harness their potentials in terms of making their 
provinces investor friendly. It is expected that they will electronically promoJe the provinces and 
provide nerve centers to connect the same to the various agencies of the national government 
thereby pushing the growth of e-Government locally and nationally. More importantly, with 
these Hubs, the archipelagic feature of the country can be bridged electronically thereby creating 
"One Philippines." 
As declared in Article 11 Section 24 of the Constitution, "The State recognizes th~ vital role of 
communication and information in nation-bnilding." Therefore, it is in pursuance of this policy 
and the consideration of the above premises that the passage of this bill is earnestly tequested. 
ONNY" F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
. {!}fh;r of I~p ~N'fPtnt:~ 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
"13 
JUL -4 
1111 :16 
SENATE 
490 
s. No. _--==--_ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "SONNY" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AN ICT HUB IN EVERY PROVINCE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o/Representatives o/the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the "One 
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Philippines Act 0/2013." 
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to recognize 
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the vital role of communication and infonnation in nation building. Toward this end, the 
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State shall provide for the creation and establishment of Infonnation and Communications 
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Technology Hub, hereinafter referred to as lCT Hub, in every province. 
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SEC. 3. Location of ICT Hub. - Pursuant to the provincial development plan, the 
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province shall identify the area where the lCT Hub shall be established: Provided, That, 
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the areals shall not be in the capital or urban center of the province: Provided,/urther, 
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That, the area is owned by the provincial government. 
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SEC. 4 •. Provincial ICT Plan. - The provincial board shall fonnulate and approve 
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an rCT Plan for the province taking into consideration its comparative advantage, funding 
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mix, private sector involvement, incentives to locators, local tax incentives, among 
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others. 
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SEC. 5. Digital Infrastructure Fund. - A Digital Infrastructure Fund, hereinafter 
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referred to as Fund, in the amount of Fifty Billion Pesos (Php50,000,000,000.00) is 
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hereby appropriated as seed capital and national counterpart from the national 
7 . government for the establishment of the ICT Hub: Provided, That the Fund shall be 
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disbursed in a pro-rata manner based on the following criteria: telephone density, degree 
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of digital divide, ICT peni:tration ratio, presence of new alternative backbone networks, 
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science and technology parks and industrial estates with an ICT focus, among others. 
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Subsequent appropriations shall be annually provided for in the General 
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Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 6. Private Sector Incentive. - Any locator to the ICT Hub shall b~ given a 
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5-year tax break .from national taxes: Provided, That these locators are part of thb Global 
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0 & 0 Industry (Off-shoring and Outsourcing), such as, but not limited to: Animation, 
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Customer Contact, Back Office, Software Development, Medical & Legal Transcription 
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and other Cyber services: PrOVided, further, That sixty percent (60%) of its labor force 
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shall be recruited locally: Provided, finally, That, corporate income shall be declared and 
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taxes shall be paid locally on the sixth (6th) year ofits existence. 
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SEC. 7. Implementing Agency. -
The Department of Transportation and 
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Communication shall formulate the necessary implementing rules and regulations of this 
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Act in consultation with the League of Provinces. 
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SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - Any provision or provisions of this Act that may 
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be declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nUllifying other 
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portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still 
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subsist and be given effect in their entirety. 
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SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and other 
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issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
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amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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