SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. 2129 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
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'14 
FEB 19 P4 :02 
MANDATING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SEND 
FREE MOBILE ALERTS IN THE EVENT OF NATURAL AND MAN-MADE 
DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
On average, 19 cyclones enter the Philippines annually. Last year, however, was l 
an extraordinary year for the Philippines: a total of 25 weather disturbances wrought 
havoc to a nation considered as one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. 
Super typhoon "Yolanda" (international. name: "Haiyan") swept several 
provinces on November 8, leaving more than 6,000 people dead and some 1,700 still 
missing. The typhoon was catastrophic that it left millions without shelter, and 
thousands of families are still reeling from the massive destruction of the typhoon. 
According to state weather bureau Philippine Atmospher~c Geophysical and 
Astronomical Services Administration, "Yolanda" is considered one of the four most 
powerful typhoons ever recorded in the world and the most intense to have made 
landfall. It is also the strongest and most destructive cyclone to hit the Philippines in 
more than four decades. 
Although the national government and local governments affected had been 
constantly reminding residents about the looming weather disturbances, still, many 
victims of past calamities blame the lack of pre-disaster alerts and a concerted response 
to the situation. 
Modern notification systems, such as' mobile phone alerts, can be used to 
augment the existing and inefficient system as the Philippines had about 107 million 
mobile phones as of October 2013-ranked 12th in the world-and was expected to rise 
to 117 million mobile phone users by 2016. The government can also capitalize on 
wireless emergency alerts to warn and inform the public about .local hazards-as is 


done by the United States, Australia and the Netherlands-since the Philippines is 
considered as the texting capital of' the world due to a large volume of SMS traffic 
exchange in the country daily. 
In this light, swift passage of this measure is sought. 
~7ue-
rACE POE 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
'14 
FEB 19 P4 h2. 
SENATE 
S.B. 2129 
RE('EIVED HY;-f-
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SEND 
FREE MOBILE ALERTS IN THE EVENT OF NATURAL AND MAN-MADE 
DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress • 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as "The Free Mobile Disaster 
Alerts Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - The State shall at all times, protect its 
citizenry in the events of natural or man-made disasters and calamities. It shall likewise 
exhaust all possible means to notify and inform its constituents of the impending 
disasters to prevent injuries, destruction and loss of lives and property. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms 
a. "Mobile 
phone 
service 
provider", 
"service 
provider" 
or 
"telecommunication company" refers to any person, firm or partnership 
or corporation, government or private, granted a legislative franchise by 
Congress to provide cellular mobile telephone services to the general 
public, and issued certificates of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) 
by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC); 
h. "Mobile cellular phone," "mobile phone" or "cellphone" as used in this 
Act refer to a mobile telecommunication device that uses a combination of 
radio transmission and conventional telephone switching to permit 
telephone communication to and from mobile users within a specified 
area or cell; 
c. "Basic mobile phone services" refer to short messaging service (SMS) or 
text messaging and voice call services; 
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d. "Short messaging service" (SMS) refers to a service that allows short, 
alphanumeric messages to be sent to cellular phone display panels; 
e. "Multimedia messaging service" (MMS) refers to standard for telephony 
messaging systems that allovys sending messages, including multimedia 
objects (images, audio, video, rich text), and not just text messages 
through the short messaging service (SMS), and 
f. "Auxiliary mobile phone service" refers to balance inquiry, customer 
support, prepaid reloading services, and emergency alerts. 
SECTION 4. Mobile Disaster Alerts - In the event of an impending tropical 
storm, typhoon, tsunami, or other calamities, mobile phone service providers are 
mandated to send out alerts at regular intervals as required by National Disaster Risk 
Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical 
and Astronomical Services Administration (P AGASA), Philippine Institute of 
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and other relevant agencies. 
The alerts shall consist of up-to-date information from the relevant agencies, and 
shall be sent directly to the mobile phone subscribers located near and within the 
affected areas. The alerts shall include contact information of local government units 
and other agencies required to respond to the situation. The alerts may contain other 
relevant information, such as, but not limited to, evacuation areas, relief sites and pick-
up points. 
The alerts, shall be at no cost, whether direct or indirect, to the consumers; and 
shall be included as part of the service providers auxiliary service. The alerts may be in 
the form of SMS (text messages), MMS, or email, as needed and appropriate. 
SECTION 4. Report of Violations - Any natural or juridical person may report 
before the NTC any violation of this Act. 
SECTION 5. 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 but not 
more than six months, and ~ith a fine of not less than One Thousand 
Pesos (Php 1,000.00) but not more tha~ Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 
10,000.00); 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; 
h. If the offender is a corporation, the penalties may range from the 
imposition a fine not less than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00) but 
not more than Ten Million Pesos (Php 10,000,000.00) and/or a suspension 
or revocation of its Legislative Franchise and other permits and licenses by 
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NTC. The maximum penalties prescribed in paragraph (a) shall also be 
imposed on the members of its board and/or management, as applicable; 
c. An alien violating this Act shall, in addition to the penalty herein 
provided, be deported after service of sentence and shall not be permitted 
reentry into the Philippines, and 
d. All monetary penalties shall directly accrue to the National Treasury. 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulation -
The Department of 
Transportation and Communications, National Telecommunications Commission, 
National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Philippine Atmospheric and 
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and other relevant government 
agencies shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, submit the 
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) governing this Act. 
, 
SECTION 7. Amendatory and Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, 
rules and regulations, ordinances, or any parts thereof, inconsistent herewith are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is subsequently 
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain 
in full force and effect. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its 
complete publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved, 
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