FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
One of the most serious problems mankind is facing is global warming. 
Global warming results to increase in the earth's atmospheric temperature which 
causes climate change. 
Climate change brings about extreme weather 
conditions worldwide and causes strong typhoons, heavy rains and snowfalls, 
droughts, polar caps and glacier melts, rise in sea levels, flash floods, strong 
tornadoes and other abnormal weather patterns. 
Global warming is brought about by greenhouse gases trapped in the 
earth's atmosphere. 
Examples of greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, 
methane, chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, nitrogen and sulphur. 
These 
greenhouse gases come from the burning of fossil fuels to feed our energy needs 
and run our industries and transportation, as well as from deforestation and 
decomposition of agricultural wastes and other organic matters. 
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement which calls for the 
reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The Philippines, which is a signatory to 
the Kyoto Protocol has responded to this international agreement by instituting 
measures that will reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels in generating 
electricity. One of the ways that the ordinary Filipino can contribute to reduce our 
fossil fuels dependence and minimize our carbon dioxide emission is to utilize 
energy efficient electrical appliances, lightings, electronic gadgets and tools, and 
other electricity-powered household items. 
Lighting is one of the areas where we can achieve significant energy 
savings. It has been established that incandescent light bulbs consume more 
electricity than fluorescent lamps or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). A 15- 
watt CFL gives the same lumens as that of a 60-watt incandescent light bulb. 
CFLs use around 20% of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs to produce 
the same amount of light. Thus, by using CFL for our lighting needs at home, 
offices, commercial establishments and industries we will save a huge amount of 
electricity and reduce consumption of fossil fuel which is still a big component in 
our energy-mix. 
The switch to CFLs will result in household lighting costs falling by as 
much as 80%, and the Philippines' annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 
falling 2 million metric tons starting in 2011. 
This is an equivalent of taking 
250,000 cars off the road or planting 2 million trees a year. 
Also, national 
electricity demand is expected to fall by 2,000 megawatts, or the equivalent of 
electricity generated by six power plants. 


This bill aims to prohibit the manufacture, importation, sale and use of 
incandescent light bulb and prescribe a phase-out period until 2010. 
It also 
establishes a Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for lighting 
products and encourage the use of CFLs and other energy efficient lightings for 
our requirements. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
11 F'2X!4 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE MANUFACTURE, IMPORTATION, SALE AND USE OF 
AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULBS, PRESCRIBING A PHASE-OUT PERIOD 
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 "lncandescent 
Light Bulb Ban Act of 2008". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of 
the State to protect the environment, promote environmental awareness and 
conserve our natural resources consistent with the country's sustainable 
development plans. 
Toward this end, the State shall reduce the utilization of 
fossil fuels and other greenhouse gas-emitting substances. Further, the State 
shall also promote the use and utilization of energy-efficient appliances, lightings, 
electronic gadgets, household implements and other similar electrical devices. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following 
terms shall be taken to mean as follows: 
a) "Compact Flourescent Lamp (CFL)" - refers to a type of light bulb which 
has electrodes at both ends of the tube, a gas containing argon and mercury 
vapor wherein a stream of electrons flows through the gas from one electrode to 
the other which gives off ultraviolet photons that hit the phosphor coating inside 
the tube and creates visible light, and other similar light bulb; 
b) "Incandescent light bulb" - refers to a light bulb which has an electricity 
resistant filament inside that turns electrical energy into heat and makes the 
filament white hot, the "white" being the light, and other similar light bulb; 


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c) "BPS" - refers to the Bureau of Product Standard which is a bureau 
under the DTI; 
d) "DOE" - refers to the Department of Energy; 
e) "DOST" - refers to the Department of Science and Technology; 
f) "DTI" - refers to the Department of Trade and Industry; 
g) "LATL" - refers to the Lighting and Appliance Testing Laboratory of the 
DOE; 
h) "Lumens" - refers to a measure of light output; 
i) "PCIERD" - refers to the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy 
j) "TFL" - refers to Tubular Flourescent Lamps which uses the same 
Research and Development, which is an attached agency of the DOST; 
technology as that of CFLs; 
k) "Watt" - refers to a measure of energy input. 
SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts. - The manufacture, importation, sale and 
use of incandescent light bulbs and other similar lightings and fixtures which 
does not meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standards shall be prohibited 
effective January 1, 201 1. 
SECTION 5. Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). - A 
Minimum Energy Performance Standards shall be formulated by the DOE-LATL 
and BPS for lighting products which shall not be less than 15 lumens per watt. 
The concerned government agencies mentioned in this Section may adjust the 
MEPS every three (3) years in consultation with lighting manufacturers, 
importers, consumers and other stakeholders. 
SECTION 6. Exemption. - Exempt from the prohibition as provided for in 
Section 4 of this Act are those for use in scientific, research, medical and 
technological purposes. Persons, whether natural or juridical, who wish to avail 
of the exemption hereof shall secure a certificate of exemption from PCIERD 
under the Department of Science and Technology. 
SECTION 7. Phasing-out Period. - A phasing-out period upon the 
effectivity of this Act until December 31, 2010 shall be in place. During this 
period the DTI and DOE shall formulate mechanisms for the gradual phase-out of 
incandescent light bulbs in the market. PCIERD shall identify other alternative 
lightings or bulbs aside from the TFLs and CFLs. 
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SECTION 8. Penalty Clause. - By January 1, 201 I, 
any violation of this 
a) If the violator is a manufacturer or importer - a fine of not less than One 
Hundred Thousand pesos (PhP100,OOO.) but not more than Five Hundred 
Thousand pesos (PhP500,OOO.) or an imprisonment of one (1) year to two (2) 
years or both, upon conviction of a competent court. 
b) If the violator is a seller - a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand pesos 
(PhP50,OOO.) but not more than One Hundred Thousand pesos (PhP100,OOO.) or 
an imprisonment of six (6) months to one (1) year or both, upon conviction of a 
competent court. 
Act or parts thereof shall be imposed a fine, as follows: 
c) If the violator is a consumer or user of the product - a fine of not less 
than Five Thousand pesos (PhP5,OOO.) but not more than Ten Thousand pesos 
(PhP10,OOO.) or an imprisonment of one (1) month to six (6) months or both, 
upon conviction of a competent court. 
If the violator is a juridical person, the president or chief executive officer 
of the entity shall be held responsible for the violation. 
SECTION 9. lmplernenting Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The DTI, 
DOE and DOST shall promulgate the IRR within three (3) months from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION I O .  Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or 
issuances, executive orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of 
the other provisions hereof. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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