NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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23 FEB 16 P4 -26
SENATE
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG RE VILLA, JR.
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
The United Nations Human Rights Council and the Commission on Human 
Rights of the Philippines (CHR) have consistently acknowledged that "access to the 
internet is a human right," emphasizing that "better access to the internet is an 
exercise of freedom of information." 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."
In a related study conducted by the Asian Development Bank, poorer areas in 
the countries have less access, slower internet speed and fewer cell towers. In the 
same report, it shows that "only 15 percent of Filipinos have access to sufficient 
internet speed and only 9.5 percent live within the serviceable scope of cell towers."
The pandemic has accelerated the need for such access. The internet access 
has allowed the government to strengthen their information dissemination on Covid- 
19, push for work-from-home options, and support the need to shift learning 
modalities. In recognizing this context, the assistance to low-income and connectivity- 
dependent households is emphasized.
This measure aims to establish a lifeline rate for internet access, similar to 
other utilities such as electricity and potable water.
This measure compliments Republic Act 10929, otherwise known as the "Free 
Internet in Public Places Act',
In recognition of the right for internet access, the immediate approval of this 
bill is most earnestly sought.
RAMOff BONG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
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)
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SENATE
1898
.yiSff'ci’ of ii;r ifepfirtarp
23 FEB 16 P4 -26
1
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
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"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section. 1. Extension of Lifeline Rate. - Section 17 of Republic Act 7925, 
otherwise known as the ''Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the PhiUppined', is 
hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 17. Rates and Tariffs. - The Commission shali 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 adverseiy affected. In such cases, the Commission shall 
either establish a floor or ceiling on the rates or tariffs.


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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 
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 (PSA), 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


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AND THE PROCEDURE FOR THEIR SUBMISSION, WHICH SHALL BE 
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. Harmonization with the Free Internet Access in Pubiic Piaces Act. -The 
implementation of this Act shall be harmonized with the implementation of the 
Republic Act 10929, otherwise known as, "Free Internet Access in Pubiic Piaces Act'.
Sec. 3. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations (IRR). - Within ninety (90) days 
from the date of effectivity of this Act, the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with the National 
Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and in consultation with other relevant 
stakeholders, shall promulgate IRR for the effective implementation of this Act: 
Provided, That the failure of the promulgation of the IRR shall not prevent the 
implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.


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Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain 
in full force and effect.
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations, and 
other parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication either in the OfficialGazetteov in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
in the Philippines.
Approved,