FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SEN1T..e 
S. No. 
045 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As technology increases, more and more people rely on Automated Teller Machines 
(ATMs) as a method for doing daily banking tasks. While many ATM's currently have braille 
labels indicating the functions of some buttons, most machines do not have any non-visual 
method for reading or relaying the sequence of messages that appear on the screen. 
A law addressing this concern is not only prudent, but necessary, to ensure that all 
individuals have an equal opportunity to access these machines. 
This bill provides the standards for our ATMs to make them more accessible to our 
visually impaired citizens. I 
I This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENiTf45 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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MAKING AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES ACCESSIBLE TO THE VISUALLY 
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IMPAIRED. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act may be known as the "ATM Visually Impaired 
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Friendly Act". 
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SECTION. 2. Definitions. 
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a) BANKING INSTITUTION. - A network of commercial, savmgs, and 
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specialized banks that provide financial services, including accepting deposits and 
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proyiding loans and credit, money transmission and investment facilities. 
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b) VISUAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. -
Shall mean the graphic display of 
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infonnation by an automated teller machine. 
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c) AUDIO TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. - Shall mean a system that recites with 
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sonic clarity through a personal listening device substantially the same information that is 
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conveyed by a visual transmission system. 
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d) PERSONAL LISTENING DEVICE. - Shall mean earphones or other similar 
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receiver designed to transmit audio infonnation to an individual, which receiver is 
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placed in the individual's ear or held up to the ear such that only that individual can hear 
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such audio infonnation. 
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SECTION 3. Automated Teller Machine Requirements. - Every banking institution shall 
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maintain the following requirements with respect to each of the automated teller machines within 
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its dominion and control to provide equal access for all individuals: 
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'a) Any automated teller machine installed on or after the effectivity date of this 
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Act. shall transmit any message through both (i) a visual transmission system, and (ii) an 
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audio transmission system. 
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b) Any automated teller machine installed prior to the effective date of this Act 
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shall, whenever an upgrade or replacement of such automated teller machine becomes 
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necessary, be upgraded or replaced in such a manner so that such automated teller 
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machine shall transmit any message through both (i) a visual transmission system, and 
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(ii) an audio transmission system. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any pr6vision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, e,xecutive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or, inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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pUblication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved. 
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