SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'1tl 
OEC -9 P 3 :56 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
24 9 9 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF INTERNET 
CAFES, 
VIDEO 
AND 
COMPUTER 
GAME 
SHOPS 
AND 
OTHER 
ESTABLISHMENTS, PROVIDING COMPUTER SERVICES WITHIN THE 
VICINITY OF SCHOOLS, PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS, DAY CARE FACILITIES 
AND CHURCHES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Cyber age made internet cafes and other computer-based businesses a very 
profitable venture for the owners and a necessary service for their clients. Youth 
and children have Become patrons of these estaBlishments, frequenting them 
even during class hours. Some students miss their classes, unconsciously or 
intentionally, because of their engrossment in computer activities. 
Study, play, and pray time are essential to the development and well-being of our 
children, and to ensure that they are not robbed by computer activities, it is 
necessary to regulate the location of computer estaBlishments. 
In this light, this measure proposes to prohibit the establishment, operation or 
maintenance of video and computer game shops within the radius of five 
hundred (500) meters from schools, public playgrounds, day care facilities, and 
churches. This will be implemented under the auspices of the local government 
units. 
ThiS measure was filed by SenatQr Mlilnny Vilililr in the 15th Congress but was not 
passed into law. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'1/, 
DEC -9 P 3 :56 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
24 99 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF INTERNET 
CAFES, 
VIDEO 
AND 
COMPUTER 
GAME 
SHOPS 
AND 
OTHER 
ESTABLISHMENTS, PROVIDING COMPUTER SERVICES WITHIN THE 
VICINITY OF SCHOOLS, PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS, DAY CARE FACILITIES 
AND CHURCHES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
2 
to protect and promote the physical, moral, intellectual and social well-being of 
3 
the youth. 
Pursuant to this poliey, it shall regulate the operation and 
. 4 
maintenance of internet cafes, video and computer game shops and such other 
5 
computer-related services by prohibiting their operation within the radius of five 
6 
hundred (500) meters from schools, public playgrounds, day care facilities and 
7 
churches. 
8 
9 
10 
SEC. 2. No video and computer game shops shall be operated or maintained 
11 
within th~ radius of fiv~ hundr~d (500) m~ters from sQhools, PubliQ playgrol!AcJs, 
12 
day care facilities, and churches. 
13 
14 
In order to ensure compliance with this Section, video and computer game shops 
15 
shall be required to install video monitoring systems within their establishments. 
16 
17 
18 
SEC. 3. Owners or operators of internet cafes and other establishments offering 
19 
computer services located near schools, public playgrounds, day care centers 
20 
and churches shall be required to provide a "lock out" and shall "disable" 
21 
websites in internet that are inappropriate for children and students. They shall 
22 
likewise be required to post a specific time schedule for the use of computers by 
23 
children and young students; Provided, however, That they shall be allowed to 
24 
use the same only upon presentation of their school identification cards and a 
25 
school certification issued by the authorized school official to the necessity of the 
26 
research work; Provided, furlher, That said computer establishments shall have 
27 
safety policies and technologies in place; Provided, finally, That the owners of the 
28 
establishments shall unlOGk or disable the filter upon 
requ~st from C!dult 
29 
customers. 
30 
1 


1 
2 
SEC. 4. Role of Local Government Units. - Local government units concerned 
3 
shall deputize their personnel to render an on-the-spot inspection of internet 
4 
cafes, video and computer game shops, and such other computer-related 
5 
services operating near the vicinity of the schools, playgrounds, day care centers 
6 
and churches within their respective units; Provided, however, That they shall 
7. 
review files and communication within the computer establishments to maintain 
8 
system integrity and ensure that children and students are using the system in a 
9 
considerate and responsible manner. 
10 
11 
12 
SEC. 5. Penalties. - Owners or operators of internet cafes, video and computer 
13 
game shops and such other establishments offering computer services found to 
14 
have violated any provision of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by 
15 
imprisonment of one (1) year and/or a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
16 
(P100,OOO.OO), or both at the discretion of the court; Provided, That in case of 
17 
subsequent conviction, said establishment shall be closed and its license shall be 
18 
permanently revoked. 
19 
20 
21 
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and 
22 
Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ) 
23 
and the Department of Health (DOH), shall formulate and issue such rules and 
.24 
regulations necessary for the proper implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
25 
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27 
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
28 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby 
29 
shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
30 
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32 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree, executive order, or 
33 
issuance, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed or 
,34 
modified accordingly. 
35 
36 
37 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
38 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers 
39 
of general circulation. 
40 
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42 
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4$ 
Approved, 
2