.. 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'17 
MAR -8" 5 : I J 
SENATE 
S. No. 3147 
HE( ,'-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Amateur radio operators provide a valuable public service to their communities in the 
area of national disaster communications. 
Emergency and disaster relief communications 
services by volunteer radio operators have been provided before, during, and after tloods, fires, 
earthquakes, typhoons, and other disasters. Amateur radio, at no cost to taxpayers, provides a 
fertile ground for technical self-training in modern telecommunications, electronic technology, 
and emergency communications techniques ruld protocols. 
There is a strong government interest in the effective performance of amateur radio, and 
that performance must be given support at all levels of government and given protection against 
unreasonable regulation and impediments to the provision of these valuable communications. 
Lw,-- . 
~~.v£~ )N~ 
. MIRIAM DEFI~SOR SANTII{;O 
if!' 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'12 
I1f\R -(\ .)') :',3 
, SE~I47 
S.No.~~~~_ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
"V. r:2..t 
"'","-\::..--
" 
PROMOTING AND ENCOURAGING THE VALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE, DISASTER 
RELIEF, AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDED ON A VOLUNTEER 
BASIS BY AMATEUR RADIO LICENSEES OF THE NATIONAL 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Amateur Radio Emergency 
Enhancement Act of 20 I 2." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -
It is the policy of the State to promote and 
encourage the valuable public service, disaster relief, and emergency communications provided 
on a volunteer basis by amateur radio licensees of the National Telecommunications 
Commission. Toward this end, reasonable accommodation should be made for the effective 
operation of amateur radio from residences, private vehicles, and public areas, and the regulation 
at all levels of government should facilitate and encourage amateur radio operation as a public 
benelit. 
SECTION 3. Study (?f Enhanced Uses of Amateur Radio in Emergency and Disaster 
Relief Commltnications, and jbr Relief of Restrictions. - (a) The Commissioner of the National 
Telecommunications Commission ~ 
(1) 
shall undertake a study on the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio 
communications in emergencies and disaster relief; and 
(2) 
shall report its findings to Congress not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(b) 
The study reg uired by this section shall -
(I) 
include recol11l11endations~ 


• 
(2) 
(A) 
for enhancements in the voluntary deployment of Amateur Radio licensees 
in disaster and emergency communications and disaster relief efforts; and 
(B) 
for improved integration of Amateur Radio operators in planning and in 
furtherance of the Department of National Defense and National Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDDRMC) initiatives; 
(A) 
identify unreasonable or unnecessary impediments to enhanced Amateur 
Radio communications, such as the effects of private land use regulations 
on residential antenna installations; and make recommendations regarding 
such impediments. 
(c) 
In conducting the study required by this section, the Commissioner shall seek 
information from private and public sectors for the study, and utilize the expertise 
of groups representing the national amateur radio cOimmmity. 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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