Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL No. 9916
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Introduced by Representative Lianda 8. Bolilia
HXPLANATORY NOTE
The 2020 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Census of Population and
Housing  indicates  that  more  than  50  million  Filipinos  have  access  to  the
intemet]. Data shows that the National Capital Region (NCR) had the highest
proportion  of households  with  internet  access  while  three  other  regions  had
higher  access  rates,  namely:   Region  IV   (CALABARZON)   at  70.2%,   the
Cordillera  Administrative  Region  (CAR)  at  62.8%,  and  Region  Ill  (Central
Luzon) at 62.3%. The census also indicated  that   the   most   common   type   of
internet connection was made through mobile broadband networks, followed by
wired broadband networks, wireless networks, and finally, satellite broadband.
The popularity of the use of mobile broadband internet among consumers may
be attributed to cost as fixed connections cost an average of $ 38 or P 2143 per
month2 while one can buy  I  month of mobile connectivity for a fraction of the
price  with  prepaid  promos  costing  as  low  as  $2  or  P  loo  for  a  week  of
connectivity. More recent data indicates that Filipinos with access to the internet
have grown to 73 million and may grow to as much as 93 million by 20283.
1 psa,gov.ph. (n.d.). More than 50 million have Access to the Internet (2020 Census of Population and
Housing)  I Philippine Statistics Authority I Republic of the Philippines. [online] Available at:
https://psa.gov.ph/content/more-50-million-have~access-internet-2020-census-population-and-housing.
2 www.pids.gov.ph. (n.d.). InfoBits on PH global ranking in terms of internet cost. [online] Available at:
https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/resource/infographics-infobits/infobits-on-ph-global-ranking-in-
terns-of-internet-cost [Accessed 30 Jam. 2024].
3 Sanchez, M.I. (2021). Philippines: Number of internet users 2023 I Statista. [online] Statista, Available at:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/221179/internet-users-philippines/.


Filipinos are also one of the populations that spend the most time using
the internet -spending 9.14 hours accessing the internet in 20224.  As such,  it
can be  said that most internet users have experienced the increase  in internet
connection speed in the past years which cane from a lumbering 7.91  Mbps5
fixed connection speed in 2016 to  92.92 Mbps  fixed connection speed which
was recorded in December 20236. A speed of 28 Mbps for mobile connections
were also recorded in 2023 and is worth mentioning since most Filipinos access
the internet through mobile.
This representation notes that progress was made in improving internet
services   and   recognizes   the   work   of  service   providers   in   ensuring   this
improvement.  However,  additional efforts must be made to  ensure that every
Filipino gets more value for money through better services, and to prevent the
regression of the quality of internet service in the Philippines. As such, I file this
bill seeking the enforcement of standards on internet speeds to ensure consistent
and high quality internet   services for all internet users in the Philippines. The
Department of Information and Telecommunications Technology (DICT) shall
be  primarily  responsible  for  the  promulgation  of the  J7#p/e77ee77/z.ng R#/es  cz77c7
J{egcj/czfz.o72s   of  this  proposed  Act,  while  the  National  Telecommunications
Commission  (NTC)  will  assume  regulatory  responsibilities  and  functions.  A
penalty provision is present for internet service providers that will not meet the
minimum standards set forth in the provisions of this legislation.
In  consideration  of the  foregoing,  immediate
earnestly sought.
of  this  bill   is
4 Statista. (n.d.). Philippines: daily time spent using online media by activity (Q3) 2020. [online] Available
at:https://www.statista.com/statistics/803812/daily-time-spent-using-online-media-by-activity-
philippines/.
5 Dela Cruz, R.C. (2024). PH internet speed more than doubled since 2016: US firm. [online] Philippine
News Agency. Available at:
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1113475#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20country's%20averageo/o20do
wnload%20speed,Ookla%20said%20in%20a%20statement. [Accessed 30 Jam. 2024].
6 Speedtest Global Index. (n.d.). Speedtest Global Index -Monthly comparisons of internet speeds from
around the world. [online] Available at: https: //www.speedtest.net/global-index#fixed.


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNcP916
Introduced by Representative Lianda 8. Bolilia
1                                                                   AN ACT
2          REQUIRING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DELIVER A
3          MINIMUM STANDARD FOR INTHRNET CONNECTIONS SPEED
4
5      Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  Of  the  Representatives  Of  the
6      Philippines in congress assembled:
7
8                  SECTION 1.  Sfaor/ ri.£/c. -This Act shall be known as the  "Bz./z.s Ko72e#
9      Act„
10                 SEC. 2.   Dec/¢ro/I.o# a/Po/J.cjJ. -The state recognizes the vital role of
11      communication   and   information   in   nation   building   and   as   such,   it   shall
12      implement measures to provide communication standards suitable to the needs
13      and aspirations of the nation.  The  State gives priority to the protection of the
14     interests  of  consumers  and  the  establishment  of  standards  of  conduct  for
15      business and industry for advancements in the field of telecommunications and
16      connectivity.


1
In recognition of the  significant role of the  internet in this  information
2      age, the State ensures that internet users and subscribers be accorded the best
3      quality ofintemet connection service.
4                SEC.  3.   De„#!./I.o# a/ ran7Is -The following terms used in this Act
5      shall be definedas follows:
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
(a) Bandwidth - measurement of data rate of available or consumed data
communication resources expressed in bits per second or multiples of
it;
(b)Broadband   -   a   transmission   medium   which   enables   high-speed
Internet access transmitted through various technologies  such as but
not limited to the Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Cable Modern, Fiber
Optics, Wireless, Satellite, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave
Access (WiMax), and White Space;
(c)Internet   Service   Provider   or   ISP   -   a   commercial   entity   with   a
nationwide franchise that enables users to access Internet content and
services.  It  may  also  refer  to  a  public  telecommunications  entity
offering a value-added sen/ice such as the internet; and
(d)Public   Telecommunications   Entity   or   PTE   -   any   person,   firm,
partnership  or  corporation,  government  or  private,  engaged  in  the
provision of telecommunications services to the public for a fee.
S;EC. 4.   Standards on Broadbandflnternet Services -  W.I+hiln two (2:)
22     years from the effectivity of this Act, all Isps shall provide a minimum internet


1      download    speed    of    30    Megabits    per    second    (Mbps)     for    mobile
2      broadband/Internet   access   and   65    Mbps   for   fixed   and   fixed   wireless
3     broadband/internet  access  and  work  towards  providing  an  average  internet
4      connection speed above global average.
5                 In order to meet the prescribed minimum standards, ISPs or PTEs shall
6      modify,  improve,  or  change  telecommunication  lines  and  systems  or  expand
7     their infrastructure to run on higher capacity bandwidths based on the number of
8      subscribers demanding for their services.
9                 SEC.  5.    Regw/¢fro#  -The  National  Telecommunications  Commission
1o      (NTC)  shall,  by  regulation,  establish  requirements  as  deemed  appropriate  to
11      ensure  that  ISPs  meet  the  minimum  standards  in  internet  connection  speed,
12      which shall include standards regarding connection, reception, just pricing, and
13      billing  practices  to  promote  and  protect  the  rights  of consumers  of internet
14      services.
15                 SEC. 6.  Pe#¢/fi.es -Any lsp who shall not meet the minimum standards
16      specified  under  Section  4  hereof or  the  regulations  promulgated  thereunder,
17      shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalty of a fine of not less than Two
18      hundred  thousand  pesos  (P200,000.00)  but  not  exceed  Two  million  pesos
19      (P2'000,000.00).
2o                 S;EC. 7.   Implenenting Rules and Regulations -W.Tfhim s;Ixty (GOD days
21     upon the effectivity of this Act, the NTc and the Department of lnformation and


1      Communications Technology (DICT) shall promulgate the necessary rules and
2      regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
3                 SEC. 9. Sep¢robj./rty cJ¢#se -If any provision or part hereof is declared
4     unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby
5      shall remain in full force and effect.
6                 SEC.10. Repe¢/I.#g CJ¢#sc -All laws,  acts,  decrees,  executive orders,
7      issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and
8      inconsistent   with   this   Act   are   hereby   repealed,   amended   or   modified
9      accordingly.
10                  SEC.11. E/Tcc/I.tJJ.fy -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
11      complete publication in the official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
12      general circulation.
13
14                 Approved,