TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL-3 P6:16
S. No.
SENATE
135
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES GRANTED 
WITH CONGRESSIONAL FRANCHISES TO PROVIDE THEIR SUBSCRIBERS 
WITH FREE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With technology rapidly transforming our social landscape, it has become 
imperative for the government to embrace and harness these advancements to deliver 
more efficient, secure, and equitable public services.
As provided in Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution, it is the policy of 
the State to "promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity 
and independence of the nation, and free the people from poverty through policies 
that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of 
living, and an improved quality of life for all."
A Philippine study conducted in 2014 highlighted a clear "digital divide" in the 
country: 66% of middle- to upper-class individuals were Internet users, compared to 
just 35% among the poor, and only 18% among the very poor. These figures 
underscore a stark disparity in access to digital tools and opportunities.
By encouraging the participation of the private sector in bridging government 
services and the general public, this measure seeks to narrow the technology-driven 
economic and social gap that continues to hinder national progress.


Through this proposal, the State aims to both symbolically and practically 
connect the government with the Filipino people. Government websites containing 
vital information and public documents will become more accessible, thus making the 
right to information genuinely meaningful. Furthermore, services such as online 
scheduling for passport applications and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 
clearances will be readily available—literally at the fingertips of every Filipino.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
lANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBUC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
zb
SENATE 
S. No. 1,*^^
6 :16
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES GRANTED 
WITH CONGRESSIONAL FRANCHISES TO PROVIDE THEIR SUBSCRIBERS 
WITH FREE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Access to
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Government Websites Act."
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SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following
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terms shall mean:
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(a) Government website - all official websites, online platforms, mobile 
applications, and digital portals maintained and operated by the National 
Government, its departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and 
instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations 
(GOCCs), local government units (LGUs), and other entities performing 
public functions, with the main purpose of communicating and providing 
information, departmental issuances, mandates and other vital information 
for the operation of the government and the general public;
(b) Free access - zero-rated data usage where users shall not incur any data 
charges when accessing the specified government websites and platforms 
through mobile or broadband internet services;


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(c) Public telecommunications entity - any person, firm, partnership or
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corporation, government or private, engaged in the provision of
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telecommunications services to the public for compensation;
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(d) Subscriber - any person who uses, enjoys and pays for the services of public
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telecommunications entities;
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(e) Telecommunications - any process which enables a telecommunications
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entity to relay and receive voice, data, electronic messages, written or
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printed matter, fixed or moving pictures, words, music or visible or audible
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signals or any control signals of any design and for any purpose by wire,
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radio or other electromagnetic, spectral, optical or technological means.
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SECTION 3. Free Access to Government Websites. - All franchise holders or
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owners of public telecommunications entities are required to provide free access
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without redirection, forced login, or embedded third-party advertisements, to all
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government websites, which shall include, but not be limited to, the official websites
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and online platforms of the following:
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(a) Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches of the government, including
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bills and resolutions, recent cases and rulings, and public information and
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emergency services;
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(b)The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education
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(CHED), and state universities and colleges (SUCs), including online learning
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management systems and digital learning portals;
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(c)The Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth, and other public health-
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related platforms providing health 
information, public service
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announcements, and medical assistance;
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(d)The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Social Security System
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(SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and other agencies
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that provide employment assistance, social welfare, and benefits to citizens;
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The DICT, in coordination with the National Telecommunications Commission
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(NTC), shall ensure that these platforms are prioritized and remain fully accessible.


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particularly during periods of pubiic heaith emergencies, naturai disasters, or other
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events that affect normai access to education and heaithcare.
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The DICT shall also maintain and regularly update an official list of such
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websites and piatforms to ensure consistency and uniformity in impiementation.
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SECTION 4. Monitoring and Evaiuation. - To ensure effective implementation
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of this Act, the DICT, in coordination with the NTC, shail:
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(a) Establish a compiiance monitoring system to regulariy assess the
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performance of public telecommunications entities (PTEs) in providing free,
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reliable, and uninterrupted access to government websites as mandated; and
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(b) Require PTEs to submit periodic compliance reports on the performance,
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and progress on the zero-rated government websites, traffic data, and any
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access-related issues encountered by subscribers, subject to existing data
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privacy iaws.
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The DICT shall submit to Congress an annuai report, inciuding
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recommendations for policy improvements, within ninety (90) days after the end of
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each calendar year.
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SECTION 5. Pubiic Feedback Mechanism. - The DICT, in coordination with the
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NTC, shall set up a public feedback and grievance redress mechanism, inciuding an
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accessibie online portal or hotline, through which citizens may report service issues,
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blocked access, or other violations of this Act.
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SECTION 6. Penaities. - Any franchise holder or owner of a public
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teiecommunications entity that unjustifiably refuses or fails to comply with the
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provisions of this Act shall, upon due notice and hearing, be subject to the foiiowing
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administrative penalties to be imposed by the NTC:
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(a) First vioiation - a written warning and directive to compiy within a
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reasonable period not exceeding thirty (30) days;


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(b) Second violation- an administrative fine of not less than Five Million Pesos
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(P5,000,000) but not exceeding Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000);
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(c) Third violation - an administrative fine of not less than Ten Million Pesos
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(PIO,000,000) but not exceeding Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000), and/or the
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suspension of the PTE's certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN),
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franchise, or other similar authority to operate, subject to applicable laws.
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The NTC may also recommend to Congress the imposition of additional
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sanctions, including franchise review or revocation, in cases of habitual or willful non-
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compliance.
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SECTION 7. Financial Support Mechanisms. - The DICT, in coordination with
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the Department of Finance (DOF) and other concerned agencies, shall promulgate the
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implementing rules and guidelines necessary, subject to existing laws and regulations,
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to establish financial support mechanisms aimed at alleviating any potential financial
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burdens on PTEs in the implementation of this Act. Such mechanisms may include,
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but not limited to, tax incentives, grants, or subsidies to offset operational costs
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incurred, or inclusion of relevant expenses incurred as allowable deductions, among
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others.
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SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DICT, in
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coordination with the NTC and concerned PTEs, shall formulate and issue the
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necessary technical and operational guidelines to implement this Act within one
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hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity date of this Act.
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These guidelines shall include, but shall not be limited to:
a) The criteria and process for zero-rating government websites and platforms;
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b) Standards for ensuring uninterrupted, equitable, and non-discriminatory
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access to such websites across all geographic regions;
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c) Measures to prevent circumvention or commercial misuse of free access
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provisions and corresponding penalties therefor;


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d) Safeguards to protect user data privacy and prevent the collection or sale of
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personal information obtained through access to government websites; and
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e) Provisions for regular audit and performance monitoring of PTE compliance.
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The DICT shall ensure that the implementation of this Act aligns with existing
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national cybersecurity and data privacy frameworks, particularly those under the Data
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Privacy Act of 2012 and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
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proclamations and other executive issuances which are inconsistent with or contrary
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to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.
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SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
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invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected shall remain and continue to be
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in full force and effect.
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SECTION 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,