Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINHTEHNTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HotJSEBIi,LNo.     6277
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Introduced by Representative lvan Howard A. Guintu
EXPLANATORY NOTE
One of the fundamental precepts of our legal system is "ignorance of the law excuses
no one from compliance therewith." It is the duty of every Filipino, as law-abiding citizens, to
know the laws to which they are subjected to. Concomitant to this is the reciprocal duty of the
government to publish and disseminate the different laws, rules and regulations approved and
made effective within the Philippines. Thus, publication in the Offlcial Gazette or in any other
mediunn as provided by law is a prerequisite for the effectivity of laws. A similar publication
requirement is also imposed in important administrative issuances and local ordinances.
However,  dissemination through the  printing  and  publication  of laws  is  no  longer
effective in truly informing the public. Furthermore, a compilation or consolidation of the latest
updates and amendments to these laws is not avallable. For example, the penalties in terms of
value of property  and  damages  and fines  imposed  in the Revised Penal  Code  (RPC)  were
updated and amended by Republic Act No.  10951 last 2017. However, errors and confusion in
citing the correct value or fine, more particularly by media outlets or in social media pages,
still  happen.   The   same  applies  to  recently   amended  legislations   such  as  the  Revised
Corporation Code, National Internal Revenue Code, and Labor Code, among others. And when
it comes to legal issues that our citizens usually inquire into or are concerned with, such as
marriage and family relations, inheritance, violence against women and children,  land titles
and property registration, sales, loans and mortgages, etc., there is currently no updated, free
and reliable website that contains these pieces of information, along with helpful definition of


terms,  translations  to  Filipino  and  other  local  languages  and  simple  summaries  of legal
concepts and ideas.
Kung nais po nating maging isang bansang pinaghaharian ng batas,  kailangan po
mating pasimplehin ang kailangang gawin para makita at masuri ng ating mga kababayan ang
mga tanang batas na uniiral sa ating bansa. Hindi lanang sa kanila, mahakatulong din po
ito  sa  ating  gobyerno  at  sa  ating mga  tagapagpatupad  ng  batas  sapagkat  sila  man  ay
nangangailangan ng madaling pamamaraan upang balikan at pag-aralan ang mga batas na
kanilang ipinapatupad.
In  response  to  this,  there  is  a  need  for  the  government  to  adopt  information  and
communications technology (ICT) as a means to fully inforln the public on the contents of our
legal  system.  This  bill  proposes  the  establishment  of the  National  Legal  Knowledge  and
Assistance System which shall serve as an online repository of the different laws, rules and
regulations of our country.  The System will also contain relevant treaties and international
conventions  wherein  the  Philippines  is  a  party,  common  legal  forms  and  pleadjngs,  and
definition  of terms  and brief explanation  in  simple Enghsh, Filipino  and  other vernacular
languages or dialects of common legal concepts, ideas and terminologies. To foster universal
access  and  understandability,  translations  into  Filipino  and  other  vernacular  languages  or
dialects will also be made avallable in the system. In the proposed measure, partnerships and
agreements  with  government  institutions  such  as  the  National  Library,  the  Presidential
Museum  and  Library,  Senate  and  House  of Representatives  Library,  the  Supreme  Court
Library, among others, shall also be institutionalized for purposes of allowing digitalization
and shared access to books, documents, and resources.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOusEBinLNO.   6277
Introduced by Representative lvan Howard A. Guintu
AN ACT
MANDATING TIIE ESTABLISHMENT 0F AN ONLINE LEGAL KNOWLEDGE
AND ASSISTANCE SYSTEM THAT WILL BE ACCHSSIBLH NATI0NWII)E
Be  it  enacted by the  Senate  and the  House  Of Flepresehiatives  Of the  Philippines  in
Congress assembled..
SncTI0N 1. Srfeorf ri.£/a. -This Act shall be known as the "National Legal Knowledge
and Assistance System Act."
SEC. 2. Dcc/¢rafl.o" a/PoJtry. -Recognizing the right of the people to information on
matters  of public  concern,  it is  imperative that  free  and  instant access  to  official  records,
documents,  and papers pertalning to  laws, rules and regulations shall be afforded to  every
citizen. Towards this end, the use of information and communications technology (ICT) shall
be embraced as the primary platform in providing relevant legal knowledge and assistance to
the people.
She. 3. Establishmel'lt Of the No[tional Legal Knowledge and Assistance Systerm -
The Department of Justice (DOJ), in coordination with the Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT), shall establish and maintain an online National Legal
Knowledge  and  Assistance  System  (hereinafter,  the  "System")  which  shall  be  accessible
throughout the country. The contents of this System shall be the following:
a)   Updated  and  searchable  copies  of the   1987  Constitution,  laws,  codes,  rules  and
regulations of the Republic of the Philippines, its political subdivisions and government
instrumentalities;
b)   Relevant  treaties  and  international  conventions  entered  into  and  binding  with  the
Philippines;
c)   When  practicable   and  available,  translations   into  Filipino   and  other  vemacular


languages or dialects of (a) and (b) above;
d)   Definition  of  terms  and  brief  explanation  in  simple  English,  Filipino  and  other
vernacular languages or dialects of common legal concepts, ideas and terminologies;
e)   Legal forms and pleadings such as affidavits, complaints, simple contracts, etc. ;
I)    Contact information or hotlines to the Public Attomey's Office, Integrated Bar of the
Philippines and other government and private institutions that offer free or pro bo#o
legal aid and assistance; and
g)   Other information or features that are deemed essential and necessary to achieve the
purposes of this Act.
SE:C. 4. Partnership with Other Government lustitutious. -The DO] she,Il estalb\ish
partnerships and agreements with similar government institutions such as the National Library,
the  Presidential  Museum  and  Library,  Senate  and  House  of Representatives  Library,  the
Supreme Cout Library, the Office of the National Administrative Register of the UP Law
Center,  among  others,  for purposes  of allowing  digitalization  and  shared  access  to  books,
documents, and resources.
SE:C. S. Inaplementing Rules  and Regulations.  - Within sixty  (60) days from the
effectivity   of  this   Act,   the   Department   of  Justice,   Department   of  Information   and
Communications Technology and other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall
issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 6. 4xproprJ.¢f*.our. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations of the year following its enactment into
law and thereafter.
SEC.   7.  Repe¢Ji."g  CJ¢itse   -  All   laws,  presidential  decrees,  executive  orders,
proclamations,  rules  and  regulations,  or  any  part  thereof,  which  are  inconsistent  with  the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 8. SepflrobJ.Jrty CJ¢wse - If any provision or part of this Act, or the apphcation
thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this
Act shall not be affected thereby.
SHC.  9.  Ejj7rccfr.vrty  Cr¢usei  -This  Act  shall take  effect  fifteen (15)  days  from  its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,