twentieth congress of the
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
zb
14 ;1i0 37
SENATE
s. No. 475
His
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ALERTS ISYSTEMSNALMENDINGR FOiT THEEpURPOSFF M0BILE DISASTER 
10639, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE FREE MObTl^DIsS ALERT^ACT"
explanatory note
in JunnTr" 7 N°' 10639 " ',The Fre6 M°bile DiSaSter AtertS Act" -acted 
June 2014 and mandated mobile phone semce providers to send out alerts at
regular rntenrals as required by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
ounal (NDRRMQ, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
“n«' the PhiliPPine “ 0f V0,Can0,09y and
an o er relevant agencies in the event of an impending tropical storm 
typhoon, tsunami or other calamities1.
The alerts shall consist of up-to-date information (including contact information 
of local government units and agencies required to respond to the situation 
evacuation areas, relief sites and pick-up points, among others) and shall be sent to 
subscribers located near or within the affected areas.
During the recent elertion period, apparent misuse of mechanisms such as the 
Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) created for these mobile disaster alerts 
surfaced. Last April 2025, the Commission on Elections issued show cause orders 
against four political candidates in the Province of Masbate for allegedly using the 
emergency alert system for their campaign after several residents received cellphone
1 Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10639


essages callmg on them to vote for several personalities who are running for 
different elective posts^. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) also shared that it received 
multiple reports from residents in certain provinces with similar circumstances^
The OCD, which administers the comprehensive national civil defense and 
disaster nsh reduction and management program, laments such incidents which mimt 
urgent emergency notifcations "create confusion and may lead to complacency during 
real crises .» Meanwhile, COMELEC Is worried that "if this becomes prevalent during
a real dllr 
may Wr0n9'y “ ttee atertS
Given the importance of free mobile disaster alerts in emergency preparedness 
n response and in saving lives, it is crucial that the integrity of the systems and 
mechanisms behind them is presented, and such are not employed for lerso Jor 
partisan interests. This proposed bill seeks to strengthen and clarify the existing law 
on specific prohibited acts by prescribing penalties of up to hve yea. of imprisonment 
and „ Of fine of up to One million pesos for improper use of mobile alerts
The passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
GOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
2025- Mtg^lrwlbs?bntrnT/nld!!l 
a'ert sVstem in campaign." April 13,
emergen^-alert-svstem-in-camnaip;n-/n7f ^ 
Z-713/ melec-orclers-4-candidates-to-PXplam-, ,c0-r.f
OCD, Comelec hit alert system misuse " Aoril 7 7fi7t; httnc-//
alert-svstem-miciico/ 
' P '2025' h»£ir//www.inquirer.net/435322/nrrt-rnm0|0n,h;t
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
25 JUL 14 A'iO 37
SENATE
S. No. 475
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AiRff^oI?ING PENALTIES FOR IMPROPER USE OF MOBILE DISASTER
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT wn 
10639, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE FREE MOBILE DISASTER ALERTS ACT"
%ngeZCt^sembfed:56,13(6 3nd 
H°USe of RsPresentsti''^^ the Philippines in
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Section 1. A new subsection (b) under Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10639,
otherwise known as "The Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act", is hereby inserted to read 
as follows:
"Sec. 6. Penalties, - (a) Any person who gives false or misleading 
data or information or willfully or through gross negligence, conceals or 
falsifies a material fact, in any investigation, inquiry, study, or other 
proceeding held pursuant to this Act, shall be punished with 
imprisonment of not less than two (2) months but not more than six (6) 
months, and with a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) 
but not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00): Provided, however,
That if the false or misleading data or information shall have been under
oath, the maximum penalty for giving false testimony or perjury shall be 
imposed.
(B) ANY PERSON WHO EMPLOYS THE MOBILE DISASTER 
ALERTS MECHANISMS CREATED AND ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS ACT 
TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION NOT COVERED NOR RELATED TO 
THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS ACT, INCLUDING BUT NOT


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MESs71T0 /nH' DISSEMINAn0N 0F 
CAMPAIGN
messages, advertisements and other promotional 
messages, shall be punished with imprisonment of not less
than two (2) YEARS BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE (S) YEARS AND 
WITH A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
P100,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN ONE MILUON PE^S
(Pl/000/000.00). 
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[W] (C) If the offender is a corporation, the penalties may range
J the imposition of a fine of not iess than One miilion pesos
( 1,000,000.00) but not more than Ten miliion pesos (P10,000,000,00)
and/or a suspension or revocation of its legisiative franchise and other
permits and iicenses by the NTC. The maximum penaities prescribed in
paragraph (a) shail also be imposed on the membem of its board and/or 
management, as applicable.
(D) An aiien violating this Act shali, in addition to the penalty 
herein provided, be deported after service of sentence and shaii not be 
permitted reentry into the Philippines.
tW] (E) Ali monetary penalties shail directly accrue to the 
Nationai Treasury.
X X X."
dec, T 2' SeParabWty aaUSe- ~ If f0r any reaSOn' any Provision of tiis Act is 
full force a“Ut'0nal " lnVa,id' SUCh PartS n0t affeCted therebV Shal' remain in
Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. - Ali iaws, decrees, executive orders, ruies and
:r::nd ?er iSSUanCeS °r PartS there°f Which are ^ inconsistent 
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 4. EffectMty. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the omda! Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
Approved,